Daily Regulatory Notes 06/11/2025
Cities address STRs. Pinellas County, FL handles lawsuit; Glen Ellyn Village, IL blocks rental ban; Orange County, CA reconsiders regulations; Columbia, SC proposes moratorium; Jamaica Beach, TX forms association; Charleston County, SC; Parkville, MO; Ocala, FL; Yavapai County, AZ. 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. 📰
Legal battles are intensifying in Pinellas County and Indian Rocks Beach as local governments move to enforce short-term rental regulations more aggressively.
Pinellas is cracking down on occupancy violations and requiring a $600 certificate of use, sparking backlash from vacation rental owners who say the rules make it financially impossible to operate. A local attorney is preparing a lawsuit on behalf of more than 50 clients.
Meanwhile, Indian Rocks Beach, already deep in litigation with rental owners and residents alike, recently fined one operator $5,000 for noncompliance — prompting more appeals and frustration from city leaders juggling post-hurricane recovery and mounting court cases.
A U.S. District Court in Illinois has temporarily blocked Glen Ellyn’s short-term rental ban, siding with a property owner who claimed the ordinance amounted to an unconstitutional regulatory taking.
The court’s decision centered on the owner’s legitimate expectations when he bought the property—then outside village limits and free of STR restrictions—and the economic blow he’d suffer under the ban. Applying the Penn Central test, the court found the owner’s expectation of continued STR use was reasonable and that the loss of that use likely amounted to a regulatory taking.
blesouskyfbtlaw.com
Orange County cities are reconsidering their short-term rental regulations after a Grand Jury report spotlighted ineffective enforcement, inconsistent tax collection, and inadequate preparation for a tourist surge tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
In Fullerton, where roughly 180 STRs operate illegally, officials passed a 45-day moratorium while exploring a permanent crackdown on unpermitted hosts. Seal Beach is also rethinking its rules, directing staff to study buffer zones around schools following heated resident concerns that some Airbnbs openly market proximity to playgrounds.
Following a fatal shooting at a short-term rental in Columbia’s Elmwood Park neighborhood, city officials are weighing a temporary moratorium on new STR permits as public pressure mounts over neighborhood safety.
One person was killed and three injured at an Airbnb where police say 8–10 young adults had gathered, prompting renewed scrutiny of STRs in residential areas. Neighborhood association president John Wilkinson called for a full ban in residential zones, citing security and accountability concerns.
STRisker News Tracker
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The Jamaica Beach Short Term Rental Association has formed in response to the city’s recently updated STR ordinance, which imposes tighter occupancy limits based on revised bedroom and square footage definitions.
Read the updated ordinance here.
The group, made up of about 30 property owners, says the changes are forcing many hosts out of the market and unfairly penalize homes with ground-level rooms. STR registrations dropped more than 25% from last year, and association members argue the rules are overly harsh and potentially unconstitutional.
Charleston County is finalizing how to allocate nearly $9.5 million it received in a settlement with Airbnb over unpaid short-term rental fees, with leaders directing portions of the funds toward housing initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and disaster preparedness.
While the original proposal included $1.4 million for housing, a recent adjustment redirects $500,000 from disaster reserves toward a new homeless housing initiative in partnership with the City of Charleston. The remaining funds are set to support drainage projects, financial system upgrades, and a capital project for the regional visitors bureau.
In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the city of Parkville, Missouri is temporarily loosening its short-term rental regulations to accommodate an expected surge of visitors.
From May 1 through July 2026, the city will suspend its usual cap of four STRs per ward, allowing an unlimited number of permitted rentals during the three-month window. Parkville Mayor Dean Katerndahl emphasized the move is temporary and designed to give locals an economic opportunity while showcasing the city to global visitors.
Property owners will still need to obtain permits, but many—including current hosts—see this as a chance to expand offerings and meet high demand as Kansas City hosts several World Cup matches starting June 11.
Ocala officials are considering updates to the city’s zoning code that would refine how short-term rental residences and congregate living facilities are defined and regulated, in part to comply with Florida’s new Senate Bill 954 taking effect July 1.
The proposal includes a new requirement for STR property owners to obtain a business tax receipt “as appropriate,” signaling a step toward more formal oversight of rentals. The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing to review the ordinance changes, which also shift decision-making authority for certain facility approvals from lower boards to the Ocala City Council.
As Yavapai County communities weigh tighter restrictions on short-term rentals, a new REALTOR-backed study is pushing back, highlighting the sector’s economic benefits and urging a focus on housing development instead of overregulation.
The report shows STRs supported nearly 5,000 jobs and contributed $721 million in economic output in 2023 alone, challenging claims that they’re chiefly to blame for housing shortages. At recent community meetings, policy consultant Jack Greacen emphasized that outdated development patterns, not STRs, are the primary force behind the region’s housing crunch.
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Genelaine Urbano
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