Daily Regulatory Notes 01/15/2025
Cities address STRs. Cass County, MN advances ordinance; Martha's Vineyard, MA enforces regulations; California investigates price gouging; Queensbury, NY approves rules. READ MORE.
Every day, we bring you a detailed overview of recent news and updates about primary decisions, community feedback, or legislative changes relevant to the short-term rental industry. 📰
⭐ California
An Altadena family displaced by the Eaton Fire claims Airbnb increased their rental rate by 43.2%, violating California’s emergency price gouging law, which limits price increases to 10% during emergencies.
The family is seeking long-term housing while reporting the issue as thousands of displaced residents face housing challenges. California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasizes price gouging is a crime punishable by fines and jail time.
Cass County, MN
Cass County is advancing a short-term rental ordinance requiring annual licenses for properties in specific zones. The ordinance includes sewage compliance, occupancy limits tied to bedroom count or septic capacity, and owner response within one hour of issues.
Read the full ordinance here.
Amendments removed some residential zones and adjusted fee structures. A final public hearing is scheduled for January 21.
```Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Vineyard towns have implemented or are considering short-term rental regulations to address the housing crisis and to manage the Island's 4,000 vacation rentals.
West Tisbury limits owners to one property with a 30-day residency requirement, while Tisbury caps rentals at 75 nights. Chilmark may adopt a 95-night cap. Edgartown and Oak Bluffs are evaluating measures, and state inspection laws are adding oversight.
Queensbury, NY
The Queensbury Town Board unanimously approved stricter short-term rental rules, requiring stays of at least four nights per booking, with exceptions for owner-occupied properties.
Read the full report here.
Rentals are capped at 120 days between May 15 and September 15 to prevent disruptive behavior and safeguard neighborhood quality. The updates also mandate registration with Warren County, monitored through Granicus.