RENTAL RUCKUS: EDENTON TOURISTS' DEMANDS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE PROMPTING A PUSHBACK FROM THE LODGING INDUSTRY.

• Author: Infanzon, Vanessa

Cheryl Orr searched the Carolinas for the right home to start a bed-and-breakfast business. By chance, she found a Queen Anne Victorian brick house built in 1900 on the edge of Edenton, one of North Carolina's most historic towns. After renovating, she opened The Cotton Gin Inn with seven rooms in October 2016.

"The town is a tight-knit community," Orr says. "It's very welcoming and open [and] really supports one another. It's been a great experience."

It's been too welcoming and open for some, however. Four inns within the town of Edenton and Chowan County compete with more than 30 short-term rentals listed on sites such as Airbnb and VRBO. Some say it's an unfair competition. Right now, those rentals don't have to meet the same health and safety requirements as the traditional hospitality industry. That uneven playing field is sparking contention between hoteliers and property owners in many N.C. towns popular with tourists.

"Unregulated lodging properties like Airbnb that operate in residential neighborhoods are sometimes disruptive to communities and pose serious safety concerns for guests, communities and neighbor hoods," says Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association. "Guests have no way of verifying whether these properties are compliant with basic health and safety standards, like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire escapes and wheelchair ramps."

Edenton, named for former Gov. Charles Eden, was founded in 1722 on the inner banks of the Albemarle Sound. The capital of North Carolina from 1722 to 1743, it now has about 5,000 residents, while Chowan County's population is 15,000.

Tourism drives the area's economy. The Edenton Trolley takes visitors through streets marked by historic homes, museums and churches. Guests tour the waterfront with views of the Roanoke River Lighthouse with Captain Mark Thesier on Edenton Bay Cruises. Specialty boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants feature homemade and locally made products.

To remain profitable, B&B owners seek other revenue streams. Diane and Don Pariseau own Captain's Quarters Inn, a Greek Revival-style home. They supplement the inn's income with a Saturday night supper club and a two-day rib-cooking class, both open to the public. They sell barbecue sandwiches on Saturdays and host a mystery weekend in the fall and spring. Other Edenton B&Bs, including The Cotton Gin Inn, teach cooking classes and host weddings and private dinners.

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