Daily Regulatory Notes 08/12/2025
Cities address STRs. Houston, TX delays launching; New York, NY conducts poll; Pahrump, NV enforces rules; Santa Cruz County, CA advance regulations; Nantucket, MA delays meeting; Madison, WI investigates property; Daphne, AL considers rules. READ MORE.
Houston’s long-awaited crackdown on short-term rental “party houses” has been slowed by a delay in launching the city’s new property registration system.
Originally set to open August 1, the program will now go live October 1 due to technical issues, though enforcement will still begin January 1, 2026. The ordinance, adopted in April, requires STRs to register, pay a $275 annual fee per unit, provide an emergency contact, and complete a human trafficking prevention course.
A recent Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce poll found 78% of New Yorkers want to revisit the city’s ban on short-term rentals like Airbnb, sparking a fierce debate between tenant advocates and homeowner groups.
The “Tenants Not Tourists” coalition, opposing short-term rentals, called the poll misleading and pointed to earlier data showing 56% of New Yorkers oppose loosening restrictions. Both sides accuse each other of being astroturf campaigns funded by special interests, with Airbnb backing homeowner groups and spending millions supporting bills to ease rental limits.
Pahrump’s new short-term rental licensing rules are now in effect, following the Nye County Board of Commissioners’ July 15 adoption of Ordinance No. 74 under Chapter 8.115 Article V of the Town Code.
As of Aug. 4, STR owners have 90 days to register, obtain a town license, pass inspections, and ensure they also hold the required Nevada state and Pahrump business licenses. The town has already sent letters to properties flagged on rental platforms, reminding owners that they must also register for room tax collection and reporting through the Nye County Treasurer’s Office. Applications for both business licensing and room tax registration are available online, and officials warn that failure to comply will trigger penalties and enforcement.
Santa Cruz County supervisors have advanced a sweeping update to short-term rental regulations aimed at curbing housing loss and nuisance complaints in unincorporated areas.
The ordinance — set for final adoption Aug. 19 and subject to Coastal Commission review — keeps most existing zone caps in place but imposes a new countywide limit of 270 “non-hosted” permits outside those zones, matching the number already approved or pending. Other provisions include a one-per-owner permit rule, restrictions on clustering non-hosted rentals, mandatory complaint hotline signage, platform removal of unpermitted listings, eviction compensation to displaced tenants, and on-site inspections for new STRs.
Nantucket officials are stepping back from holding a November Special Town Meeting on short-term rentals after signs faded that a citizen group would force one.
The Select Board had set a tentative November 5 date as a precaution, but with no petitions imminent, members agreed the timing and odds of success weren’t right. The decision comes amid an ongoing legal fight over non-owner-occupied STRs, with the town appealing a case that could invalidate many rentals if upheld. That appeal is expected to outlast the May Annual Town Meeting, giving more time for stakeholder discussions and possible Planning Board proposals.
A family’s stay at a Madison, Wis., short-term rental turned into a police investigation when they found a camera hidden in a bathroom outlet. A 42-year-old Verona man now faces a felony charge.
Though major rental platforms ban indoor surveillance, experts say such violations can be hard to detect. Security specialist Mike Olson recommends scanning bedrooms and bathrooms for suspicious items and using a phone to spot infrared light from hidden cameras.
The Lake Forest subdivision in Daphne is considering tightening rules on short-term rentals amid resident concerns about neighborhood stability and safety. HOA President Dr. Byrian Ramsey said the board feels a responsibility to act after hearing from residents through various channels that short-term rentals bring a transient population that doesn’t contribute to the community in the same way permanent residents do.
With about 30 short-term rental contracts currently active, neighbors worry about property values, noise, and the presence of unfamiliar people and vehicles. A vote on the proposal is set for August 28, and at least two-thirds of attending members must approve for it to be adopted.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Daily Regulatory Notes 08/11/2025
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