Daily Regulatory Notes 05/14/2025
Cities address STRs. Ohio advances bill; Palm Spring, CA refines policy; Honolulu, HI reviews enforcement; Southwick, MA opposes citizens' petition; Pullman, WA votes on regulations; Quincy, MA handles lawsuit. 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. 📰
Ohio
Ohio’s House Bill 161 moved forward as lawmakers sought to impose statewide taxes on short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO, potentially generating tens of millions annually in lodging and sales tax revenue.
The bill followed growing pressure to modernize tax law and treat STRs like traditional hotels. The proposal remained under review after its second hearing in the House Development Committee.
In its latest meeting on May 7, the Palm Springs Administrative Appeals Board continued refining short-term rental policies, zeroing in on enforcement gaps linked to the fact that many vacation rental owners live outside the city.
The board explored ways to tighten oversight on property managers, including possible registration or licensing requirements, and revisited the definition of a vacation rental—proposing to shift it from “28 days” to “28 nights” to better align with real-world stays and tax code terminology. Legal counsel is now tasked with updating ordinance language, with the revised draft expected to be reviewed at the board’s next meeting on June 18.
Though Honolulu passed a 2019 law to crack down on illegal short-term rentals and hold booking platforms accountable, city officials have yet to cite Airbnb, Vrbo, or similar companies—despite thousands of unregistered listings.
The law mandates registration and monthly booking reports from platforms, but no company has complied, and the city has not enforced these provisions. With more than 7,900 listings on Oʻahu and only 2,100 legally registered, enforcement efforts have focused on individual operators, with minimal fine collection.
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Southwick’s Planning Board voted earlier this week to oppose a citizens’ petition calling for the repeal of the town’s short-term rental bylaw, emphasizing both the recent timeline of its formal adoption and the structured process it underwent.
Resident Timothy Foster, who spearheaded the repeal petition, claimed the bylaw lacked proper impact studies, particularly regarding neighborhood safety, but board members like Chair Jessica Ann Thornton and David Spina challenged those accusations, citing the thorough public process and the short time the bylaw had actually been active.
The Pullman City Council voted on Tuesday evening on whether to adopt new short-term rental regulations that have been two years in the making, as part of a comprehensive zoning code update.
Resolution R-16-25
The decision allowed short-term rentals up to duplex size in all city zones, a significant departure from the previous policy, which permitted only 14 legal rentals under strict Conditional Use Permits and banned them entirely in R1 residential areas.
The new regulations introduced mandatory business licenses, annual city inspections, and comprehensive safety measures such as emergency evacuation plans, lighted exit signs, and smoke and CO detectors. Hosts also now need a city-issued permit to advertise their properties.
Quincy officials continued their push to enforce a 2021 short-term rental ban in residential zones by suing homeowner Ronen Zangi in 2023 over alleged illegal Airbnb activity at his high-end Squantum property.
The city encouraged neighbors to gather evidence, leading to a confrontation that resulted in criminal charges against Zangi and added tension to the ongoing legal battle. Zangi countersued, alleging discrimination.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: 05/13/2025 Daily Regulatory Notes
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