This Thursday, 2/26 at 6:30PM, City Council will be meeting, and the short-term vacation rental ordinance remains one of the most important issues affecting our island’s future.

Item 9 on the City Council agenda is “Updating the Code of Ordinances Related to Short Term Rentals — Discussion and Refer to Staff to Draft Ordinance Changes and then to Planning Commission for Review.” Since this is included on the agenda, it is your time to make your opinion on the current ordinance known during public comments!

Why is this important?

We are currently sitting at roughly 20 months of inventory on the market. That is an extremely high supply level for a small barrier island like ours. Homes are sitting longer. Sellers are reducing prices. Buyers are hesitating.

Here is what many people are not saying publicly. Buyers are waiting.

I speak with potential purchasers regularly who love Tybee, want to invest here, and want to be part of this community. Many of them are choosing to pause their decision because of the current STVR ordinance. The uncertainty and restrictions have significantly limited who can purchase on the island.

For many buyers, the ability to offset ownership costs with rental income is what makes owning on Tybee financially realistic. Without that option, the numbers no longer work. When we remove that flexibility, we shrink the buyer pool.

When the buyer pool shrinks, the impact spreads:

• Longer days on market
• Downward pressure on home values
• Reduced seller equity
• Less tourism spending
• A weaker tax base over time

Tybee has always been a tourism-driven economy. Limiting short-term rental participation does not just regulate housing. It changes who can afford to own here at all. We now have elevated inventory and a portion of the buyer pool sitting on the sidelines waiting to see if the ordinance changes. That combination affects every property owner on the island.

This Thursday’s meeting is an opportunity to stay informed and engaged. The decisions being made today will shape property values, business stability, and the long-term sustainability of Tybee Island.

If you care about property rights, home values, and the economic future of our community, this meeting matters.

I will continue to provide updates as things develop! Email the Tybee City Council to make your voice heard if you can’t attend!