Daily Regulatory Notes 08/07/2025
Cities address STRs. New York & Simi Valley, CA review enforcement; Columbia, SC schedules vote; Beaufort, SC prepares to overhaul regulations; Salida, CO revisits license trends. 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. 📰
New York
Short-term rental rules are back in the spotlight in New York City as voters voice growing frustration with Local Law 18, which heavily restricts Airbnb-style rentals.
According to a new poll by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, nearly 80% of residents want to revisit the law, citing economic pressure and a need for more flexibility. Homeowners, especially in the outer boroughs, say the current rules cut off supplemental income and reduce local tourism. In response, City Council is considering a bill, Intro 1107, that would ease restrictions by lifting the live-in requirement and increasing guest allowances.
Columbia is moving ahead with a major update to its short-term rental ordinance following a June shooting at an unregistered Airbnb, with the City Council set to finalize a new package of restrictions on August 19.
Until then, the city continues to freeze new STR permits while officials refine a plan that includes raising the booking age to 25, mandating a two-night minimum stay, and applying occupancy limits throughout the day—regardless of whether gatherings are overnight or disruptive. Additional proposals would require hosts to screen guests from within 30 miles of the property, assign a locally licensed property manager as a point of contact, and provide advance notice to adjacent neighbors and local associations. Street parking would no longer count toward the two required spaces, and law enforcement could revoke permits immediately for severe violations.
Beaufort is preparing to overhaul its short-term rental regulations as a pandemic-fueled boom continues reshaping its quiet residential neighborhoods. Since 2022, the number of STRs has surged 42%, from 175 to 249, and the city now wants to address mounting concerns about clustering, traffic, and loopholes in its 2018-era rules.
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To better manage density, the city may start counting individual STR rooftops instead of licensed parcels, require owners to live onsite if using an ADU as a rental, and create waiting lists in neighborhoods nearing their cap. There's also talk of raising the cap to 8% or 10% to reflect the actual number of active rentals. With $308,000 in STR tax revenue collected in 2024 and ongoing use of Host Compliance software, enforcement tools are in place—but city staff say updates are overdue. Recommendations are expected this fall.
Simi Valley is taking a closer look at how it handles short-term rentals in light of Senate Bill 346, which could give cities more power to collect taxes from platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.
During the August 5 City Council meeting, members discussed how to make sure the city doesn’t lose oversight of transit occupancy tax (TOT) collection as they consider future agreements with rental platforms. The council ultimately agreed to include short-term rentals in Chapter 5 of the city code so that TOT can be collected proactively, even before the bill is finalized.
Salida officials met on August 4 to revisit the city’s short-term rental (STR) license trends, hearing renewed concerns from STR owners about declining profitability amid a statewide tourism slump.
Despite a detailed presentation by the Salida Tourism Alliance linking a 22% drop in STR licenses to rising occupancy taxes, council members remained skeptical and showed little interest in easing regulations or offering relief. STR owners argued that higher nightly fees are pushing prices up and bookings down, while council members countered with broader housing concerns and questioned the relevance of industry comparisons.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Daily Regulatory Notes 08/06/2025
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