Daily Regulatory Notes 01/21/2026
Cities address STRs. Washington revives bill; Austin, TX reviews enforcement; San Diego, CA advance measure; Carson City schedules outreach meeting; Falmouth, CA revises bylaw; Clatsop County, OR provides STR updates; Dickinson, ND proposes amendment. READ MORE.
Washington
Washington lawmakers are again considering a statewide short-term rental tax, reviving Senate Bill 5576 after it stalled in 2025.
The proposal would allow local governments to impose up to a 4% tax on vacation rental bookings to fund housing in tourism-heavy communities. The bill faces renewed opposition as it returns alongside a companion House measure.
Bill to tax short-term rentals returns in Washington state — along with Airbnb opposition https://t.co/XNEFgr6lpO
— GeekWire (@geekwire) January 20, 2026
A Texas family displaced by a house fire says they were abruptly removed from an Airbnb after disclosing firearm possession.
Airbnb cited safety reasons and pointed to its policy requiring host consent for firearms, while Texas law bars landlords from prohibiting lawful firearm possession by tenants. Legal experts say the statute does not clearly address short-term rentals, leaving the issue unsettled.
San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is advancing a revised ballot measure that would impose an $8,000 annual tax on whole-home short-term rentals and vacant second homes, with an added $4,000 surcharge for corporate-owned properties.
The proposal removes a prior per-bedroom levy and exempts home-sharing hosts and limited-use primary residences. The Rules Committee will reconsider the proposal Jan. 28 ahead of a potential June 2026 ballot vote.
1. If short term rentals (STR) were prohibited in San Diego we wouldn’t have housing emergency.
— objkshn (@objkshn) January 20, 2026
2. STR cannot operate without city ordinance.
3. City proposing $5K fine. This way the City can profit from the housing crisis caused by STR ordinance instead of repealing law. 1/
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Carson City staff and Planning Commission members will host two community outreach meetings to gather public input on whether and how short-term rentals should be regulated.
The meetings will focus on potential zoning standards, including issues such as parking and local contact requirements.Written comments will also be accepted for residents and businesses unable to attend.
The town’s Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee voted to forward a revised draft STR bylaw to the Select Board after addressing inconsistencies flagged during earlier review.
Central to the revisions is adopting the state’s definition of short-term rental to prevent confusion with recently approved zoning changes. The committee also clarified licensing requirements, exemptions, and limits on non-habitable spaces, while leaving restrictions on corporate ownership intact.
The Clatsop County Board handled administrative actions and continued multiple land-use hearings, including comprehensive plan updates, code amendments tied to state law changes, and a proposed recording fee increase.
Staff also delivered the county’s required annual short-term rental cap update, showing a small net increase in permitted STRs. All major items were continued to Jan. 28 for further review and potential final action.
The Planning and Zoning Commission discussed ZTA-002-2026, a proposed zoning text amendment that would permit and license short-term rentals in select residential and downtown commercial districts while establishing application, renewal, and revocation rules.
Staff agreed to draft enforcement language, including potential penalties, and clarify outstanding issues. The commission ultimately voted to table the proposal until its next meeting.
📱 Social Buzz
Episode Title: It is NEVER to Late to Re-Invent Yourself
Episode: One Rental At A Time
Tax on short-term rentals like Airbnb again under discussion in WA
— Dailyfly News (@Dailyflynews) January 20, 2026
OLYMPIA, WA - The Washington Legislature is again considering empowering local governments to tax short-term housing rentals, much to the irritation of homeowners who rent out their https://t.co/fse6qpJQgz
The Maui County Council approved a resolution to begin reviewing proposed H-3 and H-4 hotel zoning districts related to the phased ban on vacation rentals in apartment zones. The measure now heads to planning commissions. Read the full story: https://t.co/M85gqyZu5Z
— Aloha State Daily (@alohastatedaily) January 20, 2026
Greeley voters will decide in a special election whether to repeal zoning changes for the proposed entertainment district and housing development. https://t.co/PtMQPftQ6K
— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) January 21, 2026
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
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