Daily Regulatory Notes 01/12/2026

Falmouth, MA

The Select Board is delaying action on a proposed short-term rental bylaw that would introduce licensing, occupancy limits, operator proximity requirements, and restrictions on ownership types, citing concerns about oversight, cost, and process.

Board members questioned whether granting broad regulatory authority to the Board of Health is appropriate and warned that banning all corporate ownership could unintentionally impact small, local operators.

Buena Vista, CO

The Buena Vista Board of Trustees will consider a proposed nine-month emergency moratorium on new short-term rental licenses at its January 13 meeting.

Town staff say the pause would allow time to research and rewrite the STR licensing framework after a 2025 ordinance capped licenses, with the goal of creating a clearer and more workable system. The moratorium would run through September 30, and no STR applications are currently on a waitlist.

Glen Ellyn, IL

A federal judge has granted an injunction blocking Glen Ellyn from enforcing its short-term rental ban against a single Airbnb property purchased before annexation into the village.

The court found the owners showed a likelihood that the ordinance could amount to an unconstitutional taking by eliminating the property’s economically viable use. The ruling applies only to the Arboretum Drive home and does not invalidate the ordinance more broadly.

Logan, OH

Homeowners in a Green Township subdivision are asking a judge to block a Florida-based company from operating a short-term rental they say violates restrictive covenants limiting properties to residential use.

The plaintiffs argue the STR functions as a “party house” and clearly falls outside permitted residential activity under Ohio law. Both sides have requested summary judgment, with homeowners asserting the covenants are unambiguous and prohibit the rental use.

Monterey County, CA

Monterey County supervisors have voted to ban short-term rentals in all unincorporated residential areas, including Pebble Beach and Big Sur, effectively prohibiting rentals under 30 days on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

The decision sparks backlash from compliant hosts who say they invested heavily in permits, upgrades, and tax payments under existing rules, only to face an outright ban. The ban does not affect incorporated cities such as Carmel or Monterey, which maintain their own STR regulations.

Springfield, MO

Springfield City Council is preparing to place a revised 3% hotel and short-term rental tax increase on the April 7 ballot after voters narrowly rejected a similar proposal in November 2025.

The new measure includes a 35-year sunset clause and designates a specific site for a proposed $175 million convention and events center downtown. If approved, the tax would raise the lodging tax rate from 5% to 8% beginning Oct. 1 and apply to hotels and short-term rentals.

East Alleghany, PA

East Allegheny residents are urging tighter short-term rental rules following a shooting at an Airbnb that renewed concerns about safety and neighborhood disruption.

Neighbors say recurring issues like loud parties, transient guests, and limited enforcement highlight gaps in existing regulations. Residents are calling for stricter occupancy limits, clearer accountability for owners, and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

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STRisker - Short-term regulatory changes and newsDane Artisola

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