Short-Term Rental Nuisance Enforcement (Ordinance 5980)
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.
- What: Ordinance 5980, sponsored by Spinosa, amends Ordinance 5856 (the short-term rental rules) at section 8 on compliance, setting out how short-term rentals reported as a public nuisance are enforced.
- Where it stands: passed third and final reading on 10/8/2026 with no opposing votes heard; it had been held from 9/15.
- Next: none stated; the council attorney later said the blight ordinance's penalty section should match what was adopted here (see Blight remediation ordinance (Ordinance 5950)).
What it does (per the sponsor)
- A new three-violation standard: after three or more separate court-confirmed violations of generally applicable state or local law that directly resulted from the rental's operation, and once appeal rights are exhausted, continued operation can be prohibited and the permit revoked.
- A nuisance pathway: cases may be brought in Chancery, Circuit, Criminal or Environmental Court; certain government attorneys may start proceedings; ten or more citizens can petition on a repeat nuisance involving someone already under an abatement or injunction.
- A court may award $1,000 to $50,000 in damages to qualifying nearby property owners, and the city can seek recovery of enforcement costs when police are called repeatedly to the same address.
Council action
- The committee recommended approval. Warren and Logan asked to be added as co-sponsors and the chair invited everyone to join.
- Yes votes heard: Canale, Easter-Thomas, Green, Logan, Smiley, Spinosa, Walker, Warren, White and the chair, Swearengen-Washington; none opposed.
- 2026-09-15 - Memphis City Council - Third reading held to October 6 at the sponsor's request so members have the updated text; no objection.
Sources
- 2026-10-08 - Memphis City Council (council meeting video, 10/8/2026)
Discussion time
About 4 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-08 - Memphis City Council | 4 |
Log
- 2026-10-08 - Memphis City Council — Passed on third reading, no opposing votes; sponsor summarized the three-violation standard and damages provisions.