Daily Regulatory Notes 03/13/2025
Cities address STRs. Maine revisits bills; Tompkins County, NY reviews enforcement; Fort Worth, TX & Myrtle Beach, SC handle lawsuit; Riverside County, CA discusses moratorium; North Salem, NY drafts regulations; Covington, KY opposes bill. 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. 📰
Maine
Maine lawmakers are reviving efforts to impose taxes on short-term rentals to support affordable housing and education.
LD 632, proposed by Rep. Charles Skold would allow municipalities to implement a 2% local option sales tax on short-term lodging with revenue dedicated to local housing needs.
Similar legislation by Rep. Gary Friedmann would allocate 10% of tax revenue to rural housing programs, while Rep. Michael Brennan's proposal seeks a 3% tax for school funding. Previous attempts to regulate short-term rentals through taxes and fees have failed due to concerns over tourism impacts, business disadvantages, and constitutional challenges.
Tompkins County, NY
Tompkins County has seen a decline in short-term rental listings largely due to Ithaca’s 2024 ordinance restricting corporate ownership and requiring owner occupancy. Many hosts have transitioned to long-term rentals or sold their properties.
Additionally, a new state sales tax on short-term rentals could bring in $1.3 million for the county, though enforcement details are still being clarified. Officials are watching how platforms like Airbnb handle tax collection and compliance as they await final state guidance.
Fort Worth, TX
A Tarrant County District Court judge ruled in favor of Fort Worth’s authority to regulate short-term rentals rejecting a lawsuit from operators who claimed the city’s rules violated property rights.
The 2023 regulations prohibit short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods and require registration and tax payments. The Texas Neighborhood Coalition welcomed the decision, citing concerns about neighborhood character and security, while short-term rental advocates have yet to comment on next steps.
⭐ Catch the details and latest updates about your local areas using STRisker's News Tracker.
Trying to keep up with STR regulations across multiple cities and states? STRisker's News Tracker makes it easier than ever. Filter by location, search a comprehensive database, and sort by impact level—this tool helps you focus on what matters most.
Riverside County, CA
Riverside County Planning Director John Hildebrand has requested a 45-day moratorium on new short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas of Thousand Palms and B Bar H Ranch, effective March 11 to April 25.
The temporary freeze aims to address concerns about high STR density, with 68 active or pending permits in these areas. During this period, planning staff will explore potential density controls and caps while drafting amendments to Ordinance 927.2.
North Salem, NY
North Salem officials are drafting new regulations for short-term rentals (STRs), with the Planning Board working on zoning code changes that will require special use permits.
Discussions include occupancy limits, rental duration caps, and requiring owners to reside on the premises. The town is also considering aligning with New York State’s STR registry law which takes effect on March 25 and mandates county-level registration. A public hearing will be held before final adoption, with the Town Board having the final say.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach is escalating its legal battle over a short-term rental conversion ban by moving the case to federal court. The lawsuit filed by MBSC Property South LLC challenges the city's restriction on short-term rental conversions along 114 blocks, arguing it unfairly limits property rights to sustain tourism revenue.
The city defends the ban as essential to maintaining tax revenue and economic stability, but the case now hinges on federal fair housing and property rights laws.
Covington, KY
Covington Mayor Ron Washington and city officials have opposed Kentucky Senate Bill 110 which would limit local governments' ability to regulate short-term rentals.
The bill currently in committee would prevent cities from enforcing conditional use permits or density caps. The mayor emphasized the importance of local control, a stance echoed by other cities like Newport and Independence as they push back against state-level preemption of municipal regulations.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Global Regulatory Notes (4)
Genelaine Urbano
READ: 03/12/2025 Daily Notes