NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — George Nonis rents out his four-bedroom apartment to University of Rhode Island students throughout the school year.

But once those students leave, it becomes a place for tourists to stay while visiting Narragansett in the summer.

Nonis told 12 News his livelihood is now in jeopardy thanks to a town ordinance designed to regulate short-term rentals.

The proposal, approved by the Narragansett Town Council earlier this year, mandates short-term rentals last for a minimum of seven nights. It also bans the use of short-term rentals for weddings, banquets, corporate events, and bachelor or bachelorette parties.

Through the ordinance, the town will gradually decrease the number of available short-term rental permits approved over the next few years as well.

Nonis, who's also the president of Narragansett 2100, described the ordinance as being an "overreach."

"The goal of this ordinance is to reduce short-term rentals, plain and simple," Nonis said.

That's why Nonis said Narragansett 2100, which represents the town's landlords and property managers, is legally challenging the ordinance.

The ordinance was originally set to go into effect on Aug. 1, but the Narragansett Town Council opted to hold off on its enforcement indefinitely because of the pending lawsuit.

Narragansett Town Council President Ewa Dzwierzynski told 12 News the town is currently home to 1,100 short-term rentals.

"The impact of the local short-term rental trend is contributing to housing unaffordability and the town is losing housing stock for year-round families from conversion of single-family homes to rentals leading to less year-round residents," Dzwierzynski said, noting that Narragansett has the most short-term rental offerings of any city or town in the state.

Dzwierzynski said goal of the ordinance is to "increase the quality of life for everyone."

"The intent for regulating short-term rentals is to create a balance among residents, vacationers, students and seasonal renters," she continued. "Unlike some towns in the state, country and abroad that have passed laws banning short-term rentals outright, the town of Narragansett is looking to bring balance to the community."

Nonis believes the ordinance won't work as well as the town thinks it will. He said that, even if residents do decide to put their homes on the market, their asking prices won't attract the prospective buyers the town is looking for.

"[Homeowners] are not going to reduce their prices to allow families to come in and make it affordable," Nonis explained. "That's not happening across the state, never mind in Narragansett."

Nonis said Narragansett 2100 is now waiting for a judge to decide whether the town can enforce the ordinance. That will officially be determined at an emergency hearing scheduled for Sept. 16.

Until then, Nonis said it will mostly be status quo.

"Anytime you put a delay on something that you're fighting against — it's a win," Nonis said.

Though the town has put a temporary hold on seasonal rental registrations until a decision is made, landlords and property managers can still register their properties for academic and annual rentals.