LAKE NORMAN, N.C. -- Noise and partying from a rental house on Lake Norman is prompting Lincoln County to consider new regulations for vacation party rentals.
A YouTube video set to an acoustic version of the song "Margaritaville" shows a house at 7880 Howard Lane in the Westport neighborhood in Denver as luxury on the lake. A rental website says it costs $4,400 a week during peak rental season and $18,000 a week during the Democratic National Convention.
But to neighbor Stephanie Marik, it’s hell, not Margaritaville.
"It's really bad. I mean it's awful,” Marik said. "The problem lies that every weekend there's a different group of partiers."
Neighbors say the parties started when a new owner first rented the house a couple months ago.
Since then, neighbors say dozens of people party at the house at the same time. Cars park on the grass shoulder and a party bus has pulled up at 1:45 in the morning.
Marik says the music, talking and swearing coming from the backyard, pool and deck is so loud it's as if the party is in her kids' bedrooms and they can't sleep. She's considering sound insulation or moving.
"We're also concerned with safety because every week and weekend we have different people coming into your neighborhood and getting pretty intoxicated,” Marik said.
Lincoln County ordinances do not prohibit vacation rentals. But now, county leaders are looking at ways to help.
Options include making sure owner contact information is posted on vacation rentals and restricting on-street parking. Officials will meet Monday night to discuss options.
Neighbors say they're not opposed to parties or rentals, but prefer long-term, quieter renters.
"I think that's more appropriate for this neighborhood,” said neighbor Cliff Brommer. "It's quiet here and we kind of like it that way, really."
For now, code enforcement and permit issues prompted Lincoln County to restrict use of four of the home’s seven bedrooms, plus the pool and dock.
Crews were at the house Thursday working to resolve those issues and county officials expect the house will pass a new inspection.
The homeowner, a doctor from North Wilkesboro, had no comment.
