Daily Regulatory Notes 03/09/2026
Cities address STRs. Hawaii advances legislation; Orlando, FL reviews enforcement; Laconia, NH advances ordinance; McKinney, TX approves registration program; Santa Barbara, CA votes ordinance; Saratoga Springs, NY; Los Angels, CA; Miami, FL; Foxborough, MA. READ MORE.
Hawaii
Lawmakers in Hawaii are advancing legislation that would strengthen enforcement against illegal short-term rentals by allowing counties to use time-stamped screenshots of listings on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo as evidence in regulatory cases.
HB 1590
The proposal, HB 1590, would also require booking platforms that collect reservation fees to register with the state as tax collection agents and remit the state’s General Excise Tax and Transient Accommodations Tax on behalf of hosts. The bill must still pass the full state legislature, with platform tax reporting requirements proposed to begin in 2027 if enacted.
Record tourism activity in Orange County is generating higher tax revenue from short-term lodging, with January collections reaching roughly $35.3 million in Tourist Development Tax receipts.
The tax, which applies to hotels and short-term rentals, funds tourism promotion and infrastructure including the Orange County Convention Center. Officials attribute the continued surge to strong visitor demand, convention activity, and anticipation around major attractions like Universal Epic Universe.
Officials in Laconia are advancing changes to the city’s short-term rental ordinance after the Planning Board voted 4–1 to recommend the amendments to City Council.
Government Websites by CivicPlus®
The proposal would restrict short-term rentals in single-family residential zones by requiring property owners to obtain a zoning variance instead of a special exception, while also redefining short-term rentals as stays of up to 28 days rather than 14. Additional provisions would require operators to submit rental data and proof of a rooms and meals license to the city to improve oversight and enforcement. The City Council is expected to consider the amendment at its March 9 meeting after months of discussion and multiple public hearings.
The McKinney City Council has approved an ordinance establishing a mandatory annual registration program for short-term rentals.
Government Websites by CivicPlus®
Operators will be required to submit registration details and provide a 24-hour contact person who can respond to complaints related to issues such as noise or parking. City officials say the program will help identify and track the estimated 486 short-term rentals operating locally while ensuring compliance with the city’s hotel occupancy tax rules. The ordinance passed 4–2 and does not currently include a fee.
STRisker Updates Tracker
How do you keep up with the regulatory rollercoaster in your market? STRisker's Updates Tracker can be your guide - start tracking latest events as they happen and get access to essential documents as they come in. We know the struggle, which is why we built this product to capture every twist and turn in the regulatory saga so you never miss a beat.
Officials in Santa Barbara are moving a long-debated short-term rental ordinance forward after the Santa Barbara Planning Commission voted 4–2 to advance the proposal to the Santa Barbara City Council despite unresolved details.
Community Development
The rules would regulate rentals of fewer than 30 days, including listings commonly advertised on platforms like Airbnb, by setting zoning limits and operating standards intended to reduce neighborhood impacts. The ordinance must also address the city’s coastal zone, where final approval would require review from the California Coastal Commission before any rules could take effect.
Officials in Saratoga Springs have begun issuing short-term rental licenses following the rollout of a program created under a city law approved in December 2024 that requires operators to register their properties and obtain permits.
Government Websites by CivicPlus®
The system faced early setbacks after its June 2025 launch when the online portal issued licenses automatically without verifying data, forcing the city’s Accounts Department to take over manual reviews and coordinate with building and fire officials before approvals. With the application portal currently offline while a new system is built, the city is accepting paper applications and issuing some provisional licenses as it works through a backlog caused largely by required fire inspections and incomplete documentation.
The approach of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is driving new short-term rental activity around Los Angeles, where matches will be held at SoFi Stadium and more than 150,000 additional visitors are expected.
To increase supply, Airbnb is offering a $750 bonus to first-time hosts in host cities, while other platforms such as Vrbo and Booking.com are promoting nearby listings. However, hosts must navigate local short-term rental regulations requiring permits in places like Los Angeles and Inglewood, where approvals can take several weeks and some properties are ineligible under city rules. The regulations also require hosts to communicate local noise and conduct standards to guests.
A Florida law firm has launched a legal resource center focused on injuries occurring at short-term rentals listed on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
Mausner Group Injury Lawyers
In Florida, short-term rentals generated nearly $390 million in Airbnb-related taxes in 2023 as more of the state’s 140 million annual visitors choose private rentals instead of hotels. The firm says many properties are operated by individual hosts who may lack hotel-level safety standards, raising risks related to maintenance issues, pools, structural hazards, or fire safety.
Communities around Foxborough are warning residents that local zoning rules may prohibit listing homes as short-term rentals during upcoming matches at Gillette Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While more than 150 homes in nearby towns are registered with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for short-term rental tax purposes, several municipalities—including Foxborough, Norfolk, and Plainville—say their zoning bylaws ban or heavily restrict rentals listed on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Officials have begun reminding residents of restrictions ahead of the tournament as visitors look for accommodations near the stadium, and at least one homeowner in Norfolk is challenging the town’s prohibition after receiving a warning notice and potential fines of up to $300 per day.
📱 Social Buzz
🎤 Episode Title: Short-Term Rental Collapse: Why Investors Are Going Mid-Term
🎤 Episode: The Landlord Lens
📻 Listen:https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e06f90f
#Airbnb Report: Montréal seasonal short-term rental ban risks millions in tourism revenue https://t.co/qyr33Ay7Gb
— Ziggy (@Ziggy4232) March 9, 2026
A new independent analysis by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (RCGT)1 finds that the City of Montréal’s municipal bylaw—which limits short-term rentals in residentia…
Florida lawmakers push new pool safety rules for vacation rentals as child drowning deaths risehttps://t.co/DLbdR3VsVd
— Francesco Abbruzzino - The Suncoast News (@TheSuncoastNews) March 9, 2026
The Maui Planning Commission voted to deny two proposed hotel zoning districts that would have allowed thousands of short-term rentals to continue operating on Maui.https://t.co/e8AxOK2VFp
— Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (@mauihla808) March 8, 2026
Should You Get a World Cup Short Term Rental Permit in Kansas City? A Landlord’s Guide to the $50 vs $200 Decision 📄 YouTube Description: The 2026 World Cup is coming to Kansas City—and short term rental demand is going to surge. But before you list your property, you need to pic.twitter.com/qQSBJg0cJG
— Alpine Property Management Kansas City (@mpainter3) March 8, 2026
Stay Updated with STRisker
STRisker offers tools and features to keep you updated with the Short-Term Rental movement across the globe.
👍 We’d love your feedback.
Which stories hit? Which ones missed?
We're constantly refining Daily Notes to make it even more useful for you.
✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!
-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading Daily Notes? Feel free to forward this along. We’re opening a few more spots.