Daily Regulatory Notes 01/29/2026
Cities address STRs. San Diego, CA rejects ordinance; Florida advances bill; Sandpoint, ID overhauls ordinance; Plover Village, WI updates ordinance; Brea, CA introduces pilot program; Montrose Borough, PA approves zoning amendment; Haines City, FL increases enforcement. READ MORE.
San Diegoโs push to impose new taxes on short-term rentals and empty second homes stalled Wednesday when the City Councilโs Rules Committee voted to kill the proposal.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera argued the tax could return housing to long-term residents and shift costs toward tourism, but committee members raised concerns about legality and economic impact. The vote prevents the issue from reaching the full council or the ballot.
https://t.co/Y2gO1PGv7D
โ San Diego Live Data (@619SDLD) January 29, 2026
The Rules Committee killed Councilmember Elo-Riveraโs plan to tax vacation rentals, 3-2 vote, rejecting a scaled-back version that would have charged corporate and absentee owners around $8,000 per short-term rental. Despite extensive testimony and housโฆ
Florida
Florida lawmakers advanced a bipartisan bill that would impose new pool and water safety requirements on licensed vacation rentals and long-term rental properties.
The merged legislation requires vacation rental owners with pools or nearby bodies of water to install approved safety features such as pool fences, alarms, self-latching locks, or pool covers. The bill cleared the Senate Regulated Industries Committee unanimously and must pass two more committees before reaching the Senate floor.
Sandpoint City Council voted 4โ2 to advance zoning code changes aimed at encouraging infill and โmissing middleโ housing by allowing smaller lot sizes and greater building coverage in residential areas.
Sandpoint Short Term Rental
In a separate 4โ2 vote, councilors overhauled the cityโs short-term rental ordinance by removing the cap on non-owner-occupied STRs, citing recent Idaho court rulings and legal risk. While the new STR rules add occupancy, parking, and local management requirements, critics warned the changes could further strain workforce housing.
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Plover village officials approved updates to the short-term rental ordinance to comply with Wisconsin court rulings that limit local authority over vacation rentals.
The changes allow short-term rentals as a permitted use in all zoning districts and remove distinctions between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied properties. While zoning restrictions are eased, the ordinance strengthens operational rules such as minimum stay requirements, parking standards, quiet hours, and bans on large gatherings.
Brea city officials have introduced a short-term rental pilot program that would legalize STRs for the first time, paired with a $1,000 annual permit fee and new operating rules.
The program is expected to generate about $500,000 annually through permits and Transient Occupancy Tax, with permits capped at 100 and distributed by lottery across city regions. STR operators must pass inspections, obtain a business license, meet parking and occupancy limits, and follow strict noise and stay requirements. The pilot runs through Dec. 31, 2029, unless the City Council votes to extend it.
Montrose Borough Council unanimously approved a zoning ordinance amendment that formally allows and regulates short-term rentals across all zoning districts.
The new rules establish annual permits, occupancy and parking limits, safety standards, inspections, and enforcement measures to address noise and nuisance issues.
Haines City is increasing enforcement against short-term rentals operating illegally by launching a mandatory city registry.
Property owners renting for stays of 30 days or less must register by March 1, pay a $100 fee, and comply with zoning rules that limit STRs to four designated communities. Noncompliant operators could face fines of up to $250 per day.
๐ฆ Tweet Highlights: Catch the latest discussions on X
LOCALS FIRST: Hawaii's governor announces the removal of 10,000 vacation rentals to free up homes for local families, shifting the state's tourism model away from short-term rentals and absentee investors. https://t.co/wdc0LYcEci
โ Fox News Lifestyle (@FoxNewsLife) January 29, 2026
January 1, 2026, was the deadline to register short-term rentals with the City of Houston.
โ Houston Permit Cntr (@COHPermits) January 28, 2026
Hosts must be registered or actively registering to avoid citations.
Click: https://t.co/498fHVIP3F to visit the Short-Term Rental Registration page.#ShortTermRentals #cohpermits #COHSTRs pic.twitter.com/3gUaRrkpgc
๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐-๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป via Seattle Times Local Business https://t.co/y1vsTyZ3G5
โ seattle newswire (@seattlebrief) January 28, 2026
City Council voted on Monday night to table an ordinance regarding short-term rentals until its next meeting on Feb. 9, agreeing that the ordinance requires further discussion and amendments.
โ The Daily Northwestern (@thedailynu) January 28, 2026
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Reported by @TiaBethke https://t.co/Q1aG91847i
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