Daily Regulatory Notes 03/04/2025
Cities address STRs. Pooler, GA approves ordinance; Atlanta, GA and Hilton Head, SC consider amendments; Ocean City, MD holds public hearing; Pacifica, CA delays approval. 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. 📰
Pooler, GA
Pooler City Council approved its first short-term rental ordinance in a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Karen Williams, set to take effect on March 18.
Read the ordinance here.
The ordinance includes a 500-foot distance rule between rentals and a 90-day window for existing operators to register for grandfathered status. Amendments before the vote extended eligibility for grandfathering to STRs active in the year before the moratorium.
```Atlanta, GA
Atlanta City Council is considering amendments to strengthen short-term rental regulations and improve enforcement against party houses.
Proposed changes include clarifying the definition of a party house, requiring 1,000 feet of spacing between single-family and duplex short-term rentals, capping short-term rentals in apartment complexes at 10% of units, and mandating $500,000 in liability insurance. A public hearing and vote are expected in March.
Ocean City, MD
Ocean City’s mayor and council held a third public hearing on an amended short-term rental ordinance that increases the minimum stay in R1 and MH zones from five nights to 31.
The shift aligns with a Planning Commission recommendation previously dismissed in January. Additionally, a first reading will be held on a proposed moratorium on new STR licenses in these zones, with limited exceptions for properties with existing licenses.
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Hilton Head, SC
Hilton Head Island Town Council is considering amendments to its short-term rental ordinance to improve fire safety following concerns over increased fire-related incidents in STRs.
Proposed changes include requiring automatic shut-off switches for outdoor gas grills and mandating monitored fire alarm systems in rentals over 3,600 square feet. A second reading of the amendments is expected in March or April.
Pacifica, CA
Pacifica’s city council delayed approving its revised short-term rental ordinance after extensive public feedback highlighted unresolved issues.
The council is considering stricter regulations including reducing the unhosted rental cap from 90 to 60 nights per year, mandating one off-street parking space per bedroom, and increasing platform accountability for compliance. The ordinance will require approval from the California Coastal Commission potentially delaying implementation by up to a year.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: 03/03/2025 Daily Notes