Daily Regulatory Notes 07/02/2025
Cities address STRs. California implements consumer protection laws; Illinois introduces new rules; San Diego, CA reopens license applications; West Fargo, ND reconsiders ordinance; Bossier Parish, LA and Richland County, SC review enforcement. READ MORE.
California
Starting next month, California will implement a wave of new consumer protection laws, including a targeted measure that forces Airbnb and similar rental platforms to display all cleaning fees and penalties upfront before a booking is completed.
Under this law, companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to $10,000. The change is part of a larger legislative package backed by Governor Gavin Newsom aimed at improving clarity in housing, health, and insurance disclosures. While the Airbnb rule may seem minor, it responds to long-standing complaints about hidden fees that inflate advertised rental costs and frustrate guests at checkout.
Illinois
Illinois is introducing new short-term rental rules starting July 1, 2025, as part of a broader package of tax increases and regulatory changes.
Hosts on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO will now be subject to the state’s Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax, which applies a 6% rate on 94% of gross receipts. The move is part of Illinois' effort to align STR taxation with hotel standards and to boost revenue alongside other changes like a vape tax hike and gas tax increase.
After a nearly three-year pause, San Diego is reopening Tier 4 short-term rental license applications for Mission Beach starting July 1. These licenses, which allow whole-home rentals for more than 20 days per year, were last available in November 2022 when the city quickly reached its cap and moved to a waitlist system.
Read the full ordinance here.
The move falls under the city’s STRO Ordinance, aimed at managing rentals under 30 days while preserving housing for long-term residents. The application window runs until August 15, with a lottery to follow.
West Fargo is reconsidering key elements of its short-term rental ordinance, especially a requirement that such rentals be the owner’s primary residence. The newly formed STR Committee met June 30 to begin reworking the proposal, which has already sparked disagreement among commissioners and residents.
The draft ordinance includes a five-person occupancy limit, non-transferable licenses, and mandatory fire inspections. In an effort to better gauge public sentiment, city officials plan to issue a community survey and review comparable policies in other Midwest cities. The committee’s next meeting is slated for July 28, with further revisions on the horizon.
Bossier Parish is facing growing public pressure to rein in short-term rentals after a coalition of 23 HOAs called on the Police Jury to enforce zoning laws that prohibit commercial activity in single-family neighborhoods.
At last week’s meeting, HOA representatives and residents cited a suicide, recurring noise complaints, and disrupted neighborhood character as reasons for concern. The parish’s planning commission confirmed that draft STR regulations exist, and is now proposing a public meeting with hosts and community stakeholders to address grievances before finalizing any policy changes.
Richland County, South Carolina is reminding residents that operating a short-term rental without a license is a violation of local law.
On June 28, deputies responded to a call about a potentially fraudulent Airbnb booking and found the homeowner lacked a required business license. Although the booking turned out to be illegitimate, the homeowner was cited for running the rental without proper permitting. Sheriff Leon Lott emphasized that enforcement of short-term rental rules will continue, and homeowners must obtain permits through the Richland County Business Service Center.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Daily Regulatory Notes 07/01/2025
William McClure
STRisker Document Analysis
Finding the right compliance documents shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack - STRisker’s Documents Analysis is built to simplify your life, offering instant access to hundreds of thousands of documents from thousands of cities across the US.
👍 We’d love your feedback.
Which stories hit? Which ones missed?
We're constantly refining Daily Notes to make it even more useful for you.
✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!
-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading Daily Notes? Feel free to forward this along. We’re opening a few more spots.