Daily Regulatory Notes 06/18/2025
Cities address STRs. Juneau, AK discusses recommendations; Dallas, TX reviews enforcement; Steamboat Springs, CO discusses proposed vacancy tax; Nantucket, MA releases FAQ; Lafayette, LA faces legal action; Columbia, SC schedules vote; Bellingham, WA; St. Charles, IL. 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. 📰
Juneau’s short-term rental task force has concluded with a slate of recommendations focused on adjusting rules and studying the economic impact of STRs, but not limiting the number of units per owner.
The group, formed to address concerns about housing shortages and growing STR activity, endorsed a clearer definition of STRs a grace period of up to three years for rule changes, and emphasized the need for more data before considering stricter caps. A proposal to limit owners to three units if vacancy rates fall below 4% was voted down. The final task force recommendation now moves to the Assembly alongside other proposed updates to local STR regulations.
Dallas residents living near short-term rentals say the city’s stalled ban is failing to protect them from recurring party house chaos. A noisy overnight party this weekend on Ivanhoe Lane brought out police, but neighbors like Jason Wanderscheid say enforcement is delayed and ineffective.
While the city’s STR ban remains on hold in the court of appeals, frustrated homeowners hope newly seated council members will prioritize stricter enforcement or alternative policies to finally address STR-related disturbances that continue unchecked.
In Steamboat Springs, short-term rental owners are pushing back against a proposed $3,100 annual vacancy tax, calling it excessive and potentially damaging.
The tax would apply to properties left unoccupied for 183 or more days per year, with the city framing it as a way to recover service costs and boost general fund revenue. The first ordinance reading to place the measure on the November ballot is expected soon
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Following a Land Court decision against a short-term rental, the town released a new FAQ clarifying that it will not expand enforcement to other properties this rental season.
Officials noted that the judgment currently applies only to the property named in the case, and an automatic stay tied to the town’s appeal suspends wider implementation of the ruling. For now, most STR operators appear unaffected as the legal process continues.
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Lafayette Consolidated Government faces legal action from homeowners claiming its ban on short-term rentals in single-family zones is unconstitutional. The lawsuit, filed by Michael DeSelle and his wife, asserts the restriction strips them of property rights and significantly reduces income potential.
The couple, who operated an STR in the Saint Streets area, said the shift to long-term renting due to the ordinance has slashed their earnings by 50%. The ordinance, enacted last year, remains a point of contention as property owners weigh its financial and legal impacts.
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from Daily Notes 06/11/2025
Columbia’s City Council is preparing for a second vote on a proposed moratorium that would temporarily halt new short-term rental permits, following a deadly shooting at a Lincoln Street Airbnb that has intensified scrutiny of STR safety in residential neighborhoods.
The moratorium, approved on first reading June 10, wouldn’t affect existing permit holders but aims to give the city time to evaluate the 446 active STRs already in operation.
Two property owners in Bellingham have taken legal action against the city, claiming its short-term rental rules infringe on their constitutional rights.
The plaintiffs, Kathryn and J. Patrick Sutton, filed suit in Whatcom County Superior Court on May 12, arguing that local restrictions — including those on renting out accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — violate due process and equal protection clauses.
St. Charles is preparing to regulate its short-term rental market following a June 9 city meeting where officials highlighted a surge in STR listings and the lack of existing oversight.
Proposed measures include a new occupancy tax, licensing requirements, zoning updates, and formal definitions in city code. Formal code proposals and fee structures are expected to come before the council in the coming months.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: 06/17/2025 Daily Regulatory Notes
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