UPDATE: Jersey City Approves Short-Term Rental Rules

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Residents overwhelmingly approved a controversial new city law that will restrict short-term rental properties, including Airbnbs.

With 97 percent of voting districts reporting, 19,725 "yes" votes were cast while 3,068 "no" votes were cast, according to results on the Hudson County website.

Christopher Nulty, a spokesperson for Airbnb, issued a statement about the vote Tuesday night.

"From the start of this campaign, we knew this was going to be one of the toughest fights we’ve faced, with the big New York hotel industry determined to fight home sharing, but we had an obligation to stand up for our community," Nulty said. "It's unfortunate to see the hotel-backed special interests run a campaign that moves Jersey City in a different direction."

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The law will to go into effect Jan. 1. The regulations include limiting the size and number of units in residential buildings that could be used as short-term rentals and require they be operated by the building owner at the site.

The City Council passed an ordinance earlier this year calling for new restrictions on short-term rental services like Airbnb, NJ.com reported. But, Airbnb collected 20,000 signatures and successfully got the question placed on the November ballot.

Officials penalized the developer of the Caprice Hotel for, according to them, operating an illegal hotel there through the Airbnb platform.

Related: Developer Ran Illegal Airbnb Hotel In Jersey City: Officials

The vote came after weeks of campaigning by groups on both sides of the issue.

Sherry Geoghegan, an Airbnb host, said in an NJ.com opinion piece they wanted people to vote no, calling the restrictions "unfair."

Vicky Dee said in the same opinion piece that short-term rentals have caused crime to increase, apartments to be overcrowded, and disrupted neighborhoods.

The Jersey City Property Owners Association wanted people to vote "yes" to the matter. The community group Jersey City Together also wanted people to vote "yes," while another community group, Jersey City, wanted people to vote "no."

Short-term apartment rentals contributed $40 million to the Jersey City economy last year, an Airbnb spokesperson said last week.

In related election news, 13 people ran for five Board of Education seats.

The unofficial vote totals were:

All results are unofficial until certified by the Hudson County Clerk's Office.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com