🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Glen Carbon, IL
Glen Carbon Caps Short-Term Rentals at 15 Non-Owner-Occupied Units
Glen Carbon Draws the Line: 15 Rentals, No More (for Now)
At its August 26 meeting, the Glen Carbon Board of Trustees officially set a cap on short-term rentals in the village. The new ordinance, which passed 4-0, allows just 15 non-owner-occupied rentals to operate at any given time. Village leaders say it’s a way to balance growth in the Airbnb-style market while protecting the feel of local neighborhoods.
The number wasn’t chosen at random. Glen Carbon looked to neighboring Edwardsville, which allows 30 short-term rentals. Since Glen Carbon is about half the size, officials cut that figure in half.
“That number would always be subject to change by the board’s discretion,” explained Community Development Director Erika Heil, adding that as the community grows, the cap could be revisited.
So far, fewer than 10 short-term rentals exist in the village, and officials stressed that no problems have been reported. “I don’t think that we’ve had any negative feedback,” Heil noted, pointing out that there haven’t been code violations or neighborhood complaints. Still, leaders felt it was important to draw clear boundaries before the market expands.
“We don’t want neighborhoods turning into revolving doors every weekend,” Heil said. “This lets people know we welcome them but don’t want the whole community to turn into a rental hub.” Village Administrator Jamie Bowden agreed, saying the ordinance protects the integrity of single-family neighborhoods.
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Along with the cap, trustees approved a second ordinance requiring inspections before any property can be approved as a short-term rental. Under the new system, applicants will undergo an inspection before appearing before the planning and zoning commission for a special-use permit hearing. The aim is to make sure homes are safe and up to code before neighbors are even asked to weigh in. “Life safety is our number one concern,” Heil emphasized.
The move highlights Glen Carbon’s proactive approach: getting ahead of potential problems instead of waiting for them to arise. By capping numbers and requiring inspections, the village is signaling that short-term rentals have a place here—just not an unlimited one.
For residents, the message is clear: Glen Carbon is open to welcoming visitors, but not at the expense of neighborhood stability. And for hosts, the new system brings structure and expectations, but also an assurance that their businesses are legitimate and protected by a transparent process.
In short, Glen Carbon is staking out its middle ground: a rental market that grows slowly, safely, and without compromising the community’s small-town character.
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