In Frankfort, lawmakers are considering two bills involving rental properties that could have a statewide impact.

But the debate over rental properties is also taking place at a community level.

And Richmond city officials have introduced an ordinance to regulate short term rentals like Airbnb.

They say they want those businesses just to pay their fair share.

This is a problem that is not unique to Richmond.

Northern Kentucky.

Lexington, Louisville and Bowling Green for sales that they already have agreements with.

Airbnb that they call Airbnb collects for them and remits that to the local municipality.

But most of the Commonwealth does not have that ability with Airbnb.

The concern is that all businesses like that, whether folks are hotels, motels or the short, short term rentals, that all will be treated the same with respect to their obligations to the city of Richmond, taxis and so on.

The problem is there are some who are not paying their taxes and we're trying to find a nice, fair way, but a fair way with teeth in it, so to speak, to have all to comply.

Hotels, motels, absolutely comply by paying those taxes.

And these folks are functioning in a similar capacity.

And that also includes them.

This ordinance is saying now everyone must be treated accordingly and should respond by paying their taxes that are due and whatever other qualifications there are for one to operate that kind of business.

The tourism department is funded by a transit tax that is the sole funding source for our department and being able to collect the transit tax from those Airbnbs allows us to help market them.

We spend over half of our budget in marketing, so it allows them to be on our website as all of the different marketing that we do all across the state and nationally.

And being able to have that transit tax is what allows us to be able to do what we do.

The RBA and Airbnb at home and away are your three most popular.

I think there's around 22 or 23 and that is just in the city limits.

There is probably close to 40 within the whole entire county and that didn't include area.

These short term rentals I'm sure will require and will presume to have access to city services and city services, whether public safety or otherwise are supported by tax monies.

So to have folks just come in and want to oh, folks work as much or too much of what's going on.

No, that's that doesn't sit well with us.

We're not going to be ugly, not going to be nasty, but we're going to be persistent.

The proposed ordinance would also put safety regulations in place within short term rentals and Richmond.