Rockdale County

Group wants to ban Airbnb in community, says rental craze brings parties, crime

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — A group called Homeowners for a Better Government wants a ban on short-term vacation rentals in Rockdale County.

Members of the group packed into a town hall community meeting in Conyers on Thursday night to discuss their concerns about Airbnb and other short-term rental sites.

They believe the rental craze has brought big parties and crime to their neighborhoods.

Garvin Haynes wanted everyone at the meeting to hear his story.

“It would literally roll you out of a bed,” Haynes said.

He said when his neighbors rented out their home as an Airbnb, the renters threw a massive party.

“Every time they were issued a citation, they would jack up the music even higher,” Haynes said.

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It’s the reason he joined dozens of others at the meeting calling for the ban.

“If you are doing these Airbnbs and need the money that bad to stay in your home, it’s time for you to sell your home,” Haynes said.

Homeowners for a Better Government members say the recent crime is creating unnecessary work for law enforcement.

“The ban is required because we don’t have enough law enforcement officers for the county at present,” ban supporter Don Meyer said.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Airbnb. In a statement, a spokesperson said:

"We support fair rules that empower Georgian hosts and homeowners to responsibly share their homes. We have a long track record of working with cities and counties towards reasonable rules and would be happy to support Rockdale County along those lines."

But the people at the meeting want only one rule: a ban.

“It can be done,” Haynes said.

Members of the group passed out flyers encouraging people to call on county commissioners to pass the ban.