Daily Regulatory Notes 01/29/2025
Cities address STRs: Ocean City, MD reviews regulations; Sedona, AZ continues to hire a lobbyist; Montana considers a bill; Pitkin County, CO reviews licensing program; St. Joseph, MN schedules vote; Cass County, MN approves ordinance; New York amends bill. 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. đź“°
Ocean City, MD
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from Daily Notes 01/20/2025
The Ocean City Council will again consider short-term rental rules, debating a proposal to limit rentals in R1 and MH zones to one per week.
This follows their dismissal of a stricter 30-day minimum stay plan which aimed to slow the rise of short-term rentals in residential areas. City officials see the weekly rental limit as a middle ground, and the planning department is urging its approval.
Sedona, AZ
Sedona will continue hiring a lobbyist to advocate for stronger short-term rental regulations at the Arizona State Legislature, a decision initially approved in 2021 despite opposition from some former council members.
With SB 1350 limiting local control over vacation rentals since 2016, Sedona’s efforts now focus on working with lawmakers—particularly in Republican-led districts—to push for regulatory changes.
Montana
Montana lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 146, the "Private Property Protection Act," which aims to limit local governments’ ability to impose zoning and property use restrictions without meeting a high legal standard.
READ: SB 146
The bill backed by supporters of short-term rentals, argues that property owners should have broader rights under the state constitution, making it harder for cities and counties to justify regulations unless they serve a compelling state interest.
Pitkin County, CO
Pitkin County Commissioners reviewed the financial performance and operational trends of the county’s Short-Term Rental (STR) licensing program during a Jan. 21 work session, noting a decline in STR license applications since its 2022 implementation.
Commissioners approved staff recommendations to update the fee structure by using improvement values instead of total property values, which will lower fees for some high-value properties while slightly increasing them for others. Other proposed changes include extending the public comment period for license applications, introducing two-year licenses for compliant owners, and reducing fees for owner-occupied rentals.
Check out the full ordinance here.
St. Joseph, MN
St. Joseph is nearing a final decision on whether to allow short-term rentals, with a city council vote anticipated in February. The proposal seeks to expand lodging options while maintaining local oversight.
STRs would be permitted in agricultural and residential zones with a conditional use permit, provided they are owner-occupied. Non-owner-occupied rentals would be restricted to downtown and highway business districts, where a permit would be required if the property’s sole use is STR operation. A 3% lodging tax would be collected to support the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s tourism efforts.
```Cass County, MN
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from Daily Notes 01/15/2025
Cass County Commissioners approved a new short-term rental ordinance following a public hearing on Jan. 21, with a 4-1 vote in favor. The ordinance introduces licensing requirements and aims to balance the interests of private STR operators and resort owners.
Commissioner Rusty Lilyquist cast the lone dissenting vote, voicing concerns about government overreach given the county’s low STR complaint rate.
New York
New York will soon finalize a law allowing counties to create short-term rental registries, providing local governments with better data on economic impact and housing availability. Initially, the bill mandated a statewide registry managed by the Department of State, but Governor Hochul amended it to give counties the option to establish their own registries instead.
Platforms like Airbnb must now report quarterly to counties on rental activity, while a statewide report will still track bookings per county.