Daily Regulatory Notes 07/29/2025
Cities address STRs. Maui County, HI approves ban; South Haven, MI finalizes fee schedule; Milton, DE weighs zoning regulations; Falmouth, MA holds first committee meeting; Cape Coral, FL reviews enforcement; Rapid City, SD discusses regulations; Bossier Parish, LA; Saint Paul, MN. READ MORE.
Maui County has taken a major step toward addressing its housing crisis by approving a measure to ban short-term rentals in apartment-zoned areas.
In a 6–3 vote on July 24, the County Council passed Bill 9, a controversial proposal aimed at converting thousands of STR condo units into long-term housing for local residents. Supporters say the bill is a necessary move to prioritize housing for people who live and work on the island, not tourists. But some council members expressed concern that most locals still won’t be able to afford these $500,000 condos unless the county significantly expands down payment assistance programs. Currently, over 300 residents are on the waitlist for first-time buyer help.
South Haven’s City Council has finalized a new fee schedule to support its revamped short-term rental program, following the adoption of an updated ordinance in March.
The new rules include stricter zoning requirements and a two-tiered classification for rentals, with fees aimed at covering the city’s costs for application processing, inspections, and licensing.
Under the approved structure, Class 1 rentals will pay $900 for zoning compliance, $450 in application and inspection fees, and $750 for a two-year license, while Class 2 rentals will pay lower fees.
Milton officials are weighing new zoning regulations for short-term rentals, with the Planning and Zoning Commission proposing they be treated as a special permitted use in residential areas.
That means property owners would need planning board approval to operate a short-term rental, similar to the town’s rules for bed and breakfasts. This zoning shift follows the recent passage of a short-term rental licensing ordinance that covers safety, advertising, occupancy, and complaint protocols. A draft advisory report is in progress and will be presented to council in September.
Falmouth’s Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee held its first meeting this week, electing leadership and starting the groundwork for future regulation.
Chair Douglas C. Brown said the group discussed its formal charge: to recommend either a general or zoning bylaw that brings stronger oversight to short-term rentals, especially with a view toward enforceable standards and housing impacts. The committee includes voices from law enforcement, real estate, planning, and housing.
To help inform their work, the committee invited Provincetown Select Board member Leslie Sandberg to attend their next meeting on August 20 and share how Provincetown handles STR rules. Any bylaw the committee recommends will still need to pass both the Select Board and a Town Meeting vote to become law.
Trying to keep up with STR regulations across multiple cities and states? STRisker's News Tracker makes it easier than ever. Filter by location, search a comprehensive database, and sort by impact level—this tool helps you focus on what matters most.
In Cape Coral, tensions around short-term rentals are growing as residents raise concerns about loud guests and late-night parties disrupting the peace of once-quiet neighborhoods.
A new poll underscores this unease, with locals like Jonathan Gabel describing a "party scene" that keeps streets buzzing late into the night. Annette Warren, who serves on the city’s Vacation Rental Advisory Group, says the city has seen rapid growth, but infrastructure and community character haven’t always kept pace.
While Cape Coral sends $9 million annually to the county in tourism dollars, it only receives $900,000 in return—a funding gap that’s fueling calls for stronger local oversight. In response, neighbors are banding together near Warren’s home to push for local protections and preserve the area’s residential feel.
Rapid City is taking the next step toward formal short-term rental regulations, following a public open house hosted by the Community Development Department on Thursday.
Planning Projects Division Manager Marlo Kapsa noted that the ordinance aims to reflect Rapid City’s unique concerns while learning from how other cities have approached the issue. With the draft ordinance now in the pipeline, it will go before the Planning Commission and City Council in the coming months.
Bossier Parish is moving toward formal short-term rental rules as public frustration and HOA activism push the issue into the spotlight.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission will hold a public meeting on July 30 to hear community input on potential regulations. Leading the charge for reform is the Bossier HOA Coalition, which grew out of resident concerns following a tenant’s tragic death at a short-term rental last Halloween.
Now, the MPC is considering drafting a formal definition of STRs to improve enforcement and clarify zoning rules. MPC Director Carlotta Askew-Brown says the commission is studying regulations from across the South while also considering legal limits to avoid overreach.
Saint Paul is making room for more short-term rentals downtown after the Board of Zoning Appeals approved a controversial variance request in a 4-1 vote.
The move allows a property at 213 4th Street East to operate all of its units as STRs, surpassing the city’s 50% limit, and to accommodate up to 15 adults per unit—well above the standard cap. Public comment on the proposal was invited before the July 18 deadline, but the board ultimately backed the applicant’s plan.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Daily Regulatory Notes 07/28/2025
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