College Park council orders 30-day crackdown on illegal short-term rentals, moves to ban rent-by-room housing

College Park, Ga. — The College Park Mayor and City Council voted unanimously April 20 to begin an aggressive, time‑boxed enforcement campaign to shut down illegal short‑term rentals operating in residential neighborhoods and to make rent‑by‑the‑room housing illegal across the city.

The council’s substitute motion, introduced by Councilmember Dr. Jamel McKenzie and amended by Mayor Pro Tem Card to add a 30‑day countdown, a public tip line for complaints and an instruction to start the legal process, responded to multiple residents who described repeated late‑night parties, suspected drug activity and blocked streets near short‑term rental properties.

“We need to enforce what’s on the books,” Councilmember McKenzie said during debate, arguing that the city can and must use zoning enforcement tools and court processes to halt operations that have been causing neighborhood harm. Mayor Pro Tem Card’s amendment asked staff to initiate the legal pipeline and provide a progress update at the May 18 meeting.

Why it matters: Residents from Ward 4 and other neighborhoods told the council that homes used as short‑term rentals or informal boarding houses have produced ongoing disturbances and safety concerns — ranging from vehicles parked in yards to alleged drug activity and confrontations. The council concluded that these uses are currently illegal under the city’s zoning code and directed staff to pursue the most expedient legal remedies available.

Resident testimony framed the urgency. Diane Baptiste told the council she and neighbors had endured weeks of noise, traffic and what she described as drug activity outside homes that are rented night‑to‑night. “Please don’t do anything without us,” she said, urging resident involvement in drafting any future regulatory changes. Eleanor and Alan Willis, who live on Lakeshore Drive, said short‑term rentals hurt property values and public safety, and they supported strict local limits.

Legal and procedural points: City Attorney Mr. Denmark told the council that, as presently written, short‑term rentals are not allowed in any zoning district in College Park. That means the first, immediate step identified by council was enforcement of existing zoning prohibitions for property uses that operate as short‑term rental businesses. Staff and council discussed the administrative steps — documentation by planning staff, letters of violation, and court proceedings — and acknowledged that the full removal of a business can require court action.

Council action and follow‑up: The council adopted the enforcement motion unanimously. The instructions included: - Immediate enforcement effort against short‑term rentals operating in violation of the zoning code; - A 30‑day enforcement countdown to start the legal process where evidence supports enforcement actions; - Establishment of a tip line and an email address for residents to submit photos and documentation of suspected illegal short‑term rentals; and - A May 18 status update from staff on enforcement progress and cases in the legal pipeline.

Planning Commission context: The Planning Commission had recommended denial of a related zoning text amendment that would have created a conditional‑use path for short‑term rentals. Commissioners and residents said that before approving any new permitting path, the city must develop enforceable operating criteria and ensure code enforcement, police and fire have the resources to monitor and respond.

Next steps: City staff were directed to produce a communications plan explaining the enforcement steps and to stand up the tip line. The council asked legal and planning staff to report back to the May 18 meeting with an update on cases, the status of any writs or other court filings, and a timeline for additional enforcement actions.