Chadds Ford Township has fined the owners of a historic home $17,000 so far in 2024 for violating local zoning code by renting the property through Airbnb. The more than 100-year-old home on 44 acres was once owned by the du Pont family. After a neighbor complained about disruptive renters, township officials decided last year that renting the property for short terms through Airbnb violated local zoning and filed a civil complaint in Magisterial District Court, triggering a year-long back-and-forth with the owners. The fine equals about $500 for every night of $900 rentals. The property owner, Smithbridge Partners LP, which is controlled by a local couple who live elsewhere in the township, said through an attorney they did not believe they were in violation and they are conservationists determined to preserve the grounds. They pleaded not guilty, but no hearing date has yet been set. The situation is emblematic of the rise of Airbnb and VRBO rentals that have caused municipalities throughout the region to assess what’s allowed as the growing sector disrupts not only the vacation and hotel industry, but also sets off conflicts with neighbors.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/9/2024