Daily Regulatory Notes 01/15/2026
Cities address STRs. Ohio reintroduces bill; Whittier, CA approves first reading; Park Township, MI handles lawsuit; Solvang, CA proposes ordinance; Carter County, KY approves ordinance. READ MORE.
Ohio
Ohio lawmakers are again weighing statewide limits on how cities can regulate short-term rentals as Sen. Andrew Brenner reintroduces Senate Bill 104, a preemption measure backed by realtors, Airbnb operators, and business groups.
The bill would restrict local authority to impose licensing fees above $20 per property, sharply undercutting existing city programs in places like Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, while preventing bans and other local controls.
Whittier officials approve the first reading of a sweeping short-term rental ordinance that tightens rules on location, density, and safety.
The measure introduces a 500-foot separation requirement, limits STR ownership, imposes parking and permit standards, and prohibits rentals in designated fire-risk zones. Further council action is expected as the ordinance moves toward final adoption.
Lakeshore property owners have taken their fight against Park Township’s short-term rental ban to federal court, arguing the township violated constitutional rights by prohibiting rentals it had allowed for decades.
Short-Term Rentals
The lawsuit claims township officials abruptly reinterpreted zoning rules in 2022 to block existing rentals without fair notice, denying owners legal nonconforming status. Plaintiffs are seeking to overturn the ban and recover damages, while a separate appeal over the ordinance remains pending in Michigan state court.
Solvang officials are proposing updates to the city’s 2016 short-term rental ordinance as concerns grow over housing loss, neighborhood disruption and hotel competition.
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The revised rules would focus on limiting rentals in residential areas while concentrating visitor stays in the village zone. A new enforcement framework would allow the city to revoke permits after three complaints in a year. The City Council is expected to consider the ordinance in February.
The Carter County Fiscal Court unanimously approves the second reading of an ordinance expanding the county’s transient tax to cover all nightly rentals, including short-term rentals like Airbnb and campgrounds.
Jeremy Wells
The 3% tax applies only to properties rented on a nightly basis and excludes monthly rentals such as apartments and long-term homes. County officials say the update aligns short-term rentals with traditional lodging already subject to the tax.
Social Listening📱: Twitter
STRisker’s Twitter Signal pulls real-time posts from officials, agencies, advocacy groups, and local influencers—so you see emerging sentiment and policy signals the moment they surface. Track conversations by place, people, and topics, then zero in on what actually matters.
📱 Social Buzz
Ocean City council voted to draft a plan capping short-term rentals in residential areas, reigniting debate over property rights and neighborhood character. https://t.co/nmB5mOu0p7
— Capital Gazette (@capgaznews) January 14, 2026
Today I reintroduced my legislation to address the rise of short-term rentals listed on sites such as AirBnb. pic.twitter.com/LfHFQJ0WsJ
— Deb Gross (@PGHDistrict7) January 13, 2026
“It’s been overdue that we manage how Airbnbs or short-term rentals of any company are behaving in our city, and also where they are and how many there should be,” Gross said during a press conference at the City-County Building Downtown.https://t.co/7FDxvhbSpk
— Julia Burdelski (@JuliaBurdelski) January 13, 2026
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
Crystel
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