Lexington County Council will soon get some expert advice as it ponders new regulations on short-term rentals.

At the body’s Aug. 22 Planning Committee meeting, the council agreed to have a professional on rental regulations advise them on a plan now being developed to regulate short-term rentals in Lexington County. That advisory session is scheduled for Sept. 12, during the council's regularly scheduled committee meetings.

Short-term rentals, often managed by companies such as Airbnb and Vrbo, will face new restrictions as Lexington County Council ponders various options to tone down noisy gatherings and disorderly behavior that critics say often occur in such dwellings.

Many other local governments in South Carolina are dealing with the same issue. Columbia City Council recently approved an ordinance establishing that all-short-term rentals within the city must have a special permit and a business license.

Lexington County staff has reviewed the various ordinances adopted by neighboring counties and will submit a final list of regulations following the Sept. 12 meeting.

Prompting concern about short-term rentals in Lexington County is the Lake Murray area, often considered a vacation spot that attracts visitors. At an earlier meeting, County Council discussed designating an overlay district in the Lake Murray area that would be subject to restrictions.

At the Aug. 22 meeting, council members also expressed concerns about area hotels losing an increasing number of customers to the short-term rental business.

Council moved in a new direction in its discussions to add fireworks restrictions within unincorporated areas of the county, changing course after hearing from the public at an Aug. 8 hearing held after first reading on a proposed fireworks ordinance.

"After listening to what the public had to say, the council decided to consider amending the current noise ordinance to include the regulation of fireworks," Jessica Imbimbo, public information officer for the county, told the Chronicle. "The official language has not yet been published or approved by council so we cannot disclose that information at this time as it is subject to change. The next time council is expected to discuss this topic is during the Sept. 12 meeting."

Under the previous proposal, fireworks would have been banned in the unincorporated areas of the county outside city and town limits, except under limited circumstances. Fireworks would still be permitted between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5, Dec. 24 and 25, and Memorial Day; as well as between 10 a.m. Dec. 31 and 1:30 a.m. Jan. 1, and during permitted public displays.

Anyone caught shooting fireworks outside the designated times and circumstances could have been fined $150 per violation.