Daily Regulatory Notes 05/26/2025
Cities address STRs. New York enforces law; Ithaca, NY reviews enforcement; Orange County, CA reports regulation; Goleta, CA prepares regulation; Williamstown, MA adopts 90-day annual cap; Claremont, CA lifts ban. 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. 📰
New York
After Memorial Day, a new statewide short-term rental law takes effect in New York requiring platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to report granular data to county governments—including booking dates, property locations, and occupancy tax amounts.
Lawmakers say the move ensures short-term rentals contribute fairly to local economies, noting the state may have missed out on over $500 million in uncollected taxes.
Ithaca’s short-term rental law fully kicks in on June 1, introducing strict new rules just ahead of the city’s busy summer season.
The ordinance mandates that short-term rentals must be owner-occupied, registered, and inspected for safety, with an annual $400 fee.
Guide to Applying for a STR Permit
Hosts must pay both occupancy and sales taxes, and cannot operate through a corporation. Online listings must clearly show a valid permit number. Violations now carry fines of up to $500 per day and can disqualify owners from hosting for three years. The city’s next help session for permit-seekers takes place May 27 at City Hall.
Orange County cities continue to wrestle with the rise of short-term rentals, and a new Grand Jury report brings fresh insight to the debate.
While concerns about neighborhood disruption and code enforcement persist, the report finds that a surge in short-term rentals doesn’t always lead to more complaints. The Grand Jury criticizes widespread leniency, noting that fines are rarely issued and TOT taxes often go uncollected, with some cities relying on an “honor system.”
Goleta is preparing to adopt new short-term rental restrictions despite data showing little current impact on the city’s housing market.
The City Council expressed support for limiting rental nights for non-owner-occupied properties, establishing a one-year delay before new homeowners can apply for STR permits, and denying permits to properties that have recently undergone no-fault evictions. Some officials also suggested capping the total number of STR permits, while others pushed back, citing concerns about unintended consequences.
Goleta's Short-Term Vacation Rentals
Williamstown voters adopted a 90-day annual cap on most short-term rentals as part of a broader effort to prevent investor-owned STRs from removing housing stock from local buyers and renters.
Town Manager Robert Menicocci said the measure aimed to create guardrails for a still-developing sector. The zoning amendment—one of 32 warrant articles at the meeting—had full support from both the planning and select boards.
Claremont officially lifts its long-standing ban on short-term rentals as the City Council passes a temporary ordinance on May 13, set to take effect June 12 and expire in one year.
The measure, which passes 4-1, allows short-term rentals in single-family homes and enforces strict rules: operators must obtain permits, undergo inspections, pay occupancy taxes, and adhere to caps limiting permits to 20 per city district.
The ordinance prohibits using rentals for events, requires one parking space per bedroom, and blocks landlords from evicting tenants just to convert units. Council members also revise definitions to tighten eligibility and reinforce that multi-unit buildings remain excluded.
```In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Weekly Regulatory Briefing (21)
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STRisker Calendar Tracker
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