Barnesville council approves ordinances allowing short‑term rentals and bed‑and‑breakfasts; one abstention

The Barnesville City Council on Feb. 3 approved a set of ordinances to regulate Short Term Rentals and Bed and Breakfast Inns, changing the city code to add definitions, allow short‑term rentals as a conditional use in several residential districts and permit Bed and Breakfast Inns under conditional use standards.

City Manager Tammy D. York presented the ordinances in a work-session review and City staff conducted second readings at the regular meeting. Council approved Ordinance No. 617 (adding a Short Term Rental article and definition), Ordinance No. 618 (conditional-use allowance in R1A, R1B, R1C and R2 districts), and Ordinance No. 619 (conditional-use standards for Bed and Breakfast Inns). The votes on all three ordinances were 4–0 in favor with Councilmember Bill Claxton recorded as abstaining each time due to a stated conflict of interest related to a recent property purchase.

The ordinances change the zoning code to require short‑term rentals to obtain conditional‑use approval in the specified residential zones and establish operational standards (as described in the new Article 5 and the amended zoning sections). Council did not amend the ordinances at second reading and approved them as presented.

Councilmembers and staff said short‑term rentals could be a revenue source for property owners and the city but also agreed on the need for a clear permitting and enforcement pathway. The ordinances will take effect according to the city’s ordinance adoption timeline; staff were instructed to implement application and enforcement procedures.

Because the adopted measures are text amendments to the zoning ordinance, property owners seeking a rental permit will still need to follow the conditional‑use process in the municipal code.