Daily Regulatory Notes 02/13/2025
Cities address STRs. Yavapai County, AZ discusses STR crisis; Arkansas advances bill; East Drumore Township, PA drafts amendment; Basalt, CO proposes annual fee; Alexandria, VA discusses regulations; Arvada, CO reviews enforcement; Austin, TX schedules vote; New York introduces amendment. 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“°
Yavapai County, AZ
Yavapai Speaks: Interview with the Mayors of Sedona and Lake Havasu
The mayors of Lake Havasu City and Sedona, Cal Sheehy and Scott Jablow discussed the growing short-term rental crisis in their cities on Yavapai Speaks.
Originally intended for homeowners renting out rooms, short-term rentals have now expanded into large investor-owned properties driving up housing costs and pricing out essential workers. Mayor Jablow described Sedona as feeling like "one large hotel," while Mayor Sheehy noted Lake Havasu’s lack of nearby affordable housing options.
Both mayors stressed the need for local control to address the impact on neighborhoods and housing affordability.
Arkansas
Arkansas lawmakers advanced HB1445 – a bill that would prohibit cities and counties from capping the number of short-term rentals and classify them strictly as residential properties.
The bill passed a House committee 10-8 and will be reviewed by the full House. It allows for limited local oversight including a registration requirement with a $50 fee cap and temporary suspensions for repeated violations.
East Drumore Township, PA
East Drumore supervisors advanced a draft zoning amendment defining and regulating short-term rentals including bed-and-breakfasts as transient lodging for 30 days or less.
The proposal mandates smoke detectors, floor plan placards, occupancy limits of two people per bedroom, and a local contact person within 15 miles. Rentals must be inspected before permitting and every three years thereafter. A public hearing for community input is set for April 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the township building.
```Basalt, CO
The Basalt Town Council discussed a proposed $2,532 per bedroom annual regulatory fee for short-term rentals aiming to curb STR growth and support affordable housing.
While the town already charges a $460 licensing fee, the new proposal sparked criticism from residents who argued it lacked sufficient data, disproportionately impacted lower-cost rentals, and should have broader exemptions. The council acknowledged the need for more information and postponed the ordinance for further discussion on April 8.
```Alexandria, VA
Alexandria's Department of Planning and Zoning is prioritizing potential new short-term rental regulations as part of its Long-Range Planning Interdepartmental Work Program for FY 2026-27.
While the city established a short-term rental registry in 2018, concerns over neighborhood impacts have led to a push for additional rules. The City Council is expected to review recommendations this month with plans for new permitting requirements to take effect in September.
Arvada, CO
Arvada City Council is addressing issues with short-term rental enforcement as most properties operate without a license, complicating compliance efforts. Some officials proposed banning STRs citing their impact on affordable housing, but staff recommended stricter regulation instead.
Preview of Ordinance 4737. Read the full ordinance here.
To improve enforcement, the city will seek a third-party vendor to track unlicensed properties and handle complaints with funding options including licensing fees or reallocating part of the police budget.
Austin, TX
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from Daily Notes 02/05/2025
Austin’s Planning Commission approved a proposed overhaul of short-term rental regulations advancing the ordinance to City Council for a final vote on Feb. 27.
The new rules aim to improve enforcement by requiring listing platforms like Airbnb to delist unlicensed rentals and collect hotel occupancy taxes. Other provisions include a 1,000-foot separation requirement for short-term rentals on smaller lots and a cap on STRs in multi-unit buildings. If adopted, existing licensed rentals would be exempt unless ownership changes.
```New York
In a scaled-back revision of her short-term rental reform bill, Council Member Farah Louis has introduced an amendment to Local Law 18 that would allow one- and two-family homeowners to register their properties for short-term rentals and secure personal spaces while hosting guests.
While some hosts welcome the change, they argue it doesn’t go far enough in lifting restrictions on occupancy and rental eligibility. Meanwhile, the NYC Hotel Association supports the amendment stating that it prevents commercial operators from turning residential homes into unregulated hotels.