Daily Regulatory Notes 03/19/2025
Cities address STRs. Kentucky passes bill; North Carolina introduces bill; Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV strengthen enforcement; Humboldt County, CA adopts regulations; Milton, DE considers regulations. 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. 📰
Kentucky
Kentucky’s Senate Bill 61 (SB 61) which aims to prevent cities from regulating short-term rental (STR) density has passed the State House last Friday but has not yet been approved by the Senate.
If enacted, it would nullify Lexington’s current STR rules which restrict the proximity of unhosted rentals to prevent neighborhood overconcentration. Additionally, the bill mandates a 30-day approval timeline for STR applications and limits the grounds for denying conditional use permits. The Senate has until March 28 to pass SB 61.
```In other news, Kentucky mayors voiced frustration over legislative tactics used to push statewide short-term rental (STR) deregulation with local officials criticizing efforts to override municipal authority.
Provisions that would prohibit density caps and conditional use permits were initially introduced in Senate Bill 110 but later tacked onto SB 61, a bill originally focused on pool regulations. With SB 61 awaiting a Senate vote, officials worry it could undermine local efforts to manage STR growth, which has been linked to rising housing costs.
North Carolina
A news senate bill for North Carolina was introduced during the recent legislative meeting. North Carolina Senate Bill 291 seeks to clarify homeowners' rights to operate short-term rentals while outlining what local governments can regulate.
The bill would prohibit outright bans, limits on rental nights, and classification as commercial use. However, it allows cities to impose occupancy limits, parking requirements, and proximity rules for rental operators. If passed, the law would override the current patchwork of regulations across the state. The bill recently passed its first reading in the Senate and now awaits further review in committee.
Los Angeles, CA
The Los Angeles City Council is considering measures to strengthen enforcement of its home-sharing ordinance and residential hotel policies including a request for 18 new positions in the Housing Department to investigate violations and issue citations.
Read the full Home-Sharing Ordinance here.
The city may also explore allowing residents to take legal action against non-compliant short-term rental hosts. To improve deterrence, LAHD is proposing increased fines based on property size and a dedicated team to monitor compliance, investigate complaints, and regulate residential hotels.
Humboldt County, CA
Humboldt County’s Board of Supervisors has adopted stricter short-term rental (STR) regulations than initially recommended by staff and the Planning Commission.
Key changes include limiting STRs on agricultural land to preserve farmland, increasing the required spacing between rentals from 300 to 600 feet, and maintaining a five-acre minimum for homeshare STRs. The new rules approved in a split vote also adjust access road standards while keeping a special permit process for STRs on parcels between 2.5 and 10 acres.
⭐ Catch the details and latest updates about your local areas using STRisker's News Tracker.
STRisker News Tracker
Trying to keep up with STR regulations across multiple cities and states? Our 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.
Las Vegas, NV
As Spring Break brings an influx of visitors to Las Vegas, short-term rental operators and local authorities are stepping up efforts to prevent disruptive parties.
The Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association is urging members to enforce strict guest screenings, security measures, and noise monitoring. Meanwhile, Metro Police are proactively patrolling known party hotspots and encouraging residents to report unusual gatherings. Airbnb, which hosts an estimated 70% of local short-term rentals, continues to utilize machine-learning technology to flag high-risk bookings.
Milton, DE
Milton is considering new short-term rental regulations that would establish a dedicated section within the town code, following trends in nearby communities like Lewes and Ocean City.
The proposed rules define STRs as rentals of 30 days or less and set occupancy limits, local contact requirements, and advertising rules. The Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to review the proposal with potential Town Council consideration to follow.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: 03/18/2025 Daily Regulatory Notes