Jackson may cap short-term rentals at 30% in new downtown projects

The Jackson Town Council will discuss whether new downtown buildings should be allowed to devote only up to 30% of a project to short-term rentals, a move staff says would push more “vibrant and active uses” instead of investor-owned units that sit empty. In the workshop packet, planning staff recommend “Limit short-term rentals to no more than 30% of the project size,” describing it as roughly one floor of a three-floor building, for example, 10,000 sq ft of short-term rentals in a 30,000 sq ft project. Town Council Workshop Agenda Packet

This is not a vote to adopt the change yet, it is a direction-setting workshop as staff drafts amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDRs). One wrinkle: the Planning Commission recommended denial of the 30% cap, saying commissioners were unsure whether it would actually increase downtown vibrancy or just shift projects toward more traditional hotel rooms. For families, I will be watching how council members define “project size” (floor area vs unit count) and whether they talk about enforcement, because a percentage cap only matters if it is clear and trackable from the building permit stage forward. Town Council Workshop Agenda Packet