Airbnb busy in Las Vegas area despite short-term rental laws

LAS VEGAS – Airbnb says stays in and around Las Vegas increased 19% last year compared with a year earlier, even though residential short-term rentals are illegal in much of the area.

The Las Vegas Sun reports company figures showed 882,000 guest arrivals in Clark County in 2019, with more than $138 million collected by Airbnb hosts. That was up from about $100 million in 2018.

The most lucrative weekend was during the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival in mid-May.

Residential short-term rentals are illegal in unincorporated Clark County and North Las Vegas, while Henderson and Las Vegas allow them with restrictions.

The Sun said county officials investigated more than 1,000 short-term rental violation cases last year, levied nearly $900,000 in fines and placed liens on 68 properties deemed to be in violation county short-term rental rules.

In 2018, the Las Vegas City Council said homeowners can only rent out homes where they live and must pay an annual $500 licensing fee and a monthly hotel tax.

The Henderson City Council last year approved short-term rentals in residential areas, imposing an $820 annual licensing fee.