NSW government strips Byron council of authority to cap short-term rentals such as Airbnb

Byron Shire council wants to cap the number of days an unhosted short-term residential property can be rented out per year in order to reduce the financial incentive to favour short-term holiday letting over long-term rental. Photograph: Peter Harrison/Getty Images

The state government has intervened to strip the local council in Byron Bay of its authority to limit the use of residential properties for holiday accommodation, just one day before a much-anticipated council vote on the issue.

Byron Shire Council was due to debate and vote on a proposal at its ordinary meeting on Thursday that would amend planning laws to reduce the number of days that properties in certain zones in the shire could be rented out to tourists through platforms like Airbnb.