Daily Regulatory Notes 02/06/2025
Cities address STRs. Greensboro, NC considers zoning change; Surry, ME proposes new ordinance; Tarpon Springs, FL & Iberia Parish, LA review regulations; Melbourne Beach, FL schedules second reading of ordinance; Long Beach, CA approves first reading of ordinance. 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. 📰
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro officials are considering changes to a rule requiring short-term rentals to be at least 750 feet apart. The City Council is set to vote on Feb. 6 on whether to hold a public hearing on Feb. 18 to gather community input before making any decisions.
The 750-foot rule implemented in April 2024 was intended to prevent clustering in residential areas, but city planners are now assessing its impact. City planners will use public feedback to determine if adjustments are needed.
Surry, ME
Surry is considering a new short-term rental ordinance aimed at addressing housing shortages and maintaining the town’s character. Public meetings discussed the proposed rules which would require annual permits, site inspections, and safety measures like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Read the ordinance here.
The ordinance also includes occupancy limits and restrictions on property management companies applying for permits. If approved by voters, the new regulations would take effect on Nov. 1.
Tarpon Springs, FL
Tarpon Springs commissioners are hesitant to revise short-term rental rules due to concerns over losing the city’s grandfathered status under Florida law. While there’s interest in expanding rental areas or reducing the required six-week minimum stay, city officials warn that modifying regulations could lead to legal challenges.
The commission is considering Pinellas County’s approach which permits STRs citywide with impact-based regulations, but no immediate action will be taken. For now, city leaders will monitor county and state developments before revisiting the issue.
Iberia Parish, LA
The Iberia Parish Council has asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to explore short-term rental regulations, with discussions set to begin at the commission’s Feb. 10 meeting.
The parish currently has no rules in place for platforms like Airbnb. Officials are looking at possible ordinances modeled after previous mobile home park regulations. The commission will decide how to proceed before sending recommendations back to the council.
Melbourne Beach, FL
The Melbourne Beach Town Commission delayed the first reading of Ordinance 2024-05, which addresses vacation rental regulations, after extensive discussion during its Jan. 15 meeting.
Read the ordinance here.
The town attorney noted 20 necessary changes, leading officials to postpone the reading to Jan. 27 to incorporate revisions. A second reading is scheduled for Feb. 19.
```Long Beach, CA
The Long Beach City Council has approved the first reading of new short-term rental regulations aimed at curbing crime and improving enforcement. The proposed rules would require rental operators to pass safety inspections, prohibit rentals in recreational vehicles and similar structures, and impose harsher penalties for violations, including automatic disqualification for serious offenses.
The city currently caps unhosted rentals at 700 and requires operators to register annually, but officials say enforcement has been a challenge. The council will hold a second reading before finalizing the regulations.