The City of Gardendale is considering banning short term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO in the city’s residential areas-a trend that has become more and more popular in the Birmingham metro area over the last few years.

Gardendale is only one of several cities taking a closer look at short term rental regulations, but those in the short term rental business worry that this move could have negative effects on the local economy.

In a recommendation to Gardendale’s city council, the planning commission cited concerns about the safety of short-term rentals with a supplementary document from Gardendale Fire and Rescue.

“The recent trend of single-family residential structures being listed and rented as a short-term rental, being used transiently, leaves overnight guests at an increased life safety risk,” reads a letter from Gardendale Fire Chief Joe Thomas.

“Therefore, to properly protect guests during overnight stays at unfamiliar spaces, occupancies that operate as short-term rentals require increased protection systems like other transient occupancies.”