Daily Regulatory Notes 07/07/2025
Cities address STRs. Maine dismisses legal challenge; Summit County, UT tightens enforcement; Newport News, VA enforces rules in August; Maui, HI delays vote; Lafayette, LA handles lawsuit Manistee, MI revisits ordinance; Brewster, MA reviews draft; Park Township, MI bans STRs. READ MORE.

Maine
Maine’s highest court dismissed a legal challenge to a 2023 short-term rental permit in Bar Harbor, ruling the case moot since the permit had already expired.
The dispute which involved two luxury waterfront neighbors, stemmed from a missed STR deadline due to a registration portal glitch. Though the town retroactively approved the permit, the challengers argued it should disqualify the property from future STR use. The court disagreed, saying the 2024 permit wasn’t properly appealed and the 2023 issue was unlikely to recur.
Summit County is tightening short-term rental enforcement ahead of potential code updates, focusing on business licensing and illegal rentals in accessory dwelling units.
A new enforcement officer and software are being used to track violations, with the county estimating only 1,200 of 5,000–6,000 STRs are currently licensed. Recent changes in state law now let the county use Airbnb and VRBO listings as evidence, potentially expanding tax collection. Officials hope to bring a new ordinance for vote by year’s end.
Three years after passing rules for short-term rentals, Newport News plans to begin enforcing them this August.



The 2022 ordinance requires owner-occupancy for at least half the year, a max of six guests, and no more than two per bedroom. Initially intended as a guideline, the city will now require compliance following safety concerns, including a shooting at a non-compliant rental. Operators must comply or apply for a permit by August 1 or face revocation and a two-year ban on reapplying. City Council may revisit the ordinance at a July 8 retreat.
After weeks of emotional testimony, the Maui County Council delayed a key vote on Bill 9—a proposal that would phase out exemptions for thousands of short-term rentals operating in apartment zones.
The measure introduced by Mayor Bissen to ease Maui’s housing crisis and recover from the impacts of the 2023 wildfires, would remove the so-called Minatoya list exemptions and redirect units to long-term use. The council which met in executive session for most of Wednesday plans to resume debate July 23.

STRisker Calendar Tracker
Staying ahead of STR regulations isn’t just about deadlines—it’s about knowing what’s coming. Our Calendar Tracker keeps you informed on upcoming meetings, key votes, and policy changes, so you never miss a critical update.
A federal lawsuit is challenging Lafayette’s citywide short-term rental ban, which took effect in October 2024 and ended STR operations like Michael DeSelle’s Saints Streets cottage rental.
DeSelle, who claims the shift cut his income in half, argues the ban infringes on constitutional property rights and treats STR owners unfairly compared to long-term landlords. With legal backing from Airbnb, DeSelle joins other property owners nationwide confronting similar crackdowns—in New Orleans, Dallas, and beyond—as cities work to preserve neighborhood character by restricting short-term rentals in residential zones.
After years of debate, Manistee’s City Council is revisiting a proposed short-term rental ordinance that would regulate local vacation rentals through a registration system, inspections, and zoning limits.



Ordinance 25-02, which failed in a narrow 3-4 vote earlier this year, is back with revisions from the council’s ordinance committee. It would require STR owners to register annually for $100 and undergo a $150 city inspection every three years. A companion zoning amendment, Z25-02, proposes a citywide cap of 165 STR units—excluding those within newly defined overlay districts covering downtown, the beaches, and several lakefront areas. No cap would apply inside those zones.
At its June 26 meeting, Brewster’s short-term rental task force reviewed a draft policy document that highlighted concerns around safety inspections, registration, and zoning.
While STR safety checks are technically mandatory under the state’s building code, members flagged the lack of notification to property owners. They also debated how far local rules should go beyond state law, especially in light of “Maggie’s Law,” which would require fire safety inspections. The task force supported a new registration system and a bundled fee model but held off on specifics. With only four members present, the group postponed a vote and plans to hold more meetings and public input sessions this summer.
Park Township in west Michigan is moving to effectively ban short-term rentals in most areas, following a trend seen in other municipalities that restrict platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo in residential neighborhoods.
The township had reinstated a dormant ban years ago, leading some owners to sell and housing prices to rise. Critics warn that such crackdowns harm local economies.
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