Daily Regulatory Notes 08/21/2025
Cities address STRs. Athens-Clarke County, GA addresses community pushback; Los Angeles, LA prepares for World Cup & Olympics; Solvang, CA tighten controls; Belton, TX reviews new rules; Jackson, WY tightens rules; Newberg, OR schedules enforcement; Chickasha, OK; Englewood, CO. READ MORE.
Athens-Clarke County officials faced strong community pushback as rezoning and short-term rental applications came before the mayor and commission.
Neighbors in Rockwood, Pinecrest, and Woodlake argued that higher density approvals could drive up traffic and open the door for more STRs, which they say threaten neighborhood stability. Commissioners acknowledged the lack of clear criteria for STR decisions, with District 2’s Melissa Link urging the planning commission to establish consistent standards. In the end, Rockwood rezoning moved forward, but Pinecrest’s higher-density proposal and a special-use request for an STR on Woodlake Drive were denied.
Hotel workers in Los Angeles are set to see major pay increases in the lead-up to the World Cup and Olympics, thanks to a new ordinance that raises minimum wages at large hotels to $25 this July and $30 by 2028.
Backers of the law say it ensures that staff can keep pace with LA’s high cost of living. Yet critics, including national hotel associations, argue the increase could devastate the industry, forcing higher room rates, staff cuts, or even closures. The debate lands at a crucial moment, with millions of visitors expected and hotel demand already predicted to far outpace supply.
Solvang’s City Council is moving toward tighter short-term rental controls after its August 11 meeting, where members focused on confining non-owner-occupied rentals to the Village Mixed Use zone to protect neighborhood character.
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The council floated a compromise allowing homestays outside the VMU if owners are present, while also considering caps, enforcement against nuisance properties, and restrictions on new STR construction. Staff have been directed to draft an ordinance that would formalize these rules, with further discussion on homestays expected in the coming month.
Belton’s City Council is weighing new short-term rental rules as it prepares for World Cup visitors, focusing its August 12 meeting on limiting most STRs to the Old Town area while requiring a special use permit for properties elsewhere.
Proposed rules set clear occupancy caps, mandate registration and parking standards, and include revocation after repeated violations. The council will continue refining the proposals with resident feedback in the months ahead.
Jackson is tightening its short-term rental rules after the Design Review Committee voted to cap new units at 1,500 square feet, with no grandfathering for oversized homes unless already permitted.
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The decision comes amid growing concern about the strain of large rentals on housing and community life. Alongside STR rules, the committee emphasized protections for dark sky certification and called for updated public design guidelines to support consistent enforcement.
Newberg is rolling out a major overhaul of its short-term rental rules starting Sept. 3, aimed at making permitting faster, cheaper, and more predictable while tightening accountability for hosts.
The council’s Aug. 4 vote cuts permit fees in half, shifts most applications to staff review with clear standards, and removes planning commission hearings unless a decision is appealed. Hosts will now need to share annual contact details with neighbors, appoint a local manager, provide extra parking at larger homes, and comply with stricter operating rules. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO will also be required to collect and remit lodging taxes directly to the city. Officials will revisit the rules in a year to evaluate impacts on neighborhoods and may impose density limits if problems persist.
Chickasha officials are weighing new oversight measures for both sports tournaments and short-term rentals after the Industrial Authority’s August 12 meeting raised concerns about lost city revenue.
Members argued the current arrangement with outside tournament organizers leaves the city cut out of gate fees and dependent on events that may or may not occur, weakening benefits for hotels, restaurants, and retailers. They signaled interest in shifting to city-led tournament management to ensure steady scheduling and stronger economic returns. The discussion also turned to Airbnbs and other rentals, with officials noting uncertainty around tax reporting and compliance.
Englewood’s Aug. 13 Board of Adjustment and Appeals meeting spotlighted mounting tensions over short-term rental rules as residents voiced worries about occupancy caps, late-night noise, parking congestion, and trash control.
Neighbors urged the board to clarify how many guests and cars would be allowed, whether quiet hours would be enforced, and how violations would be penalized. The transient nature of frequent guest turnover was cited as a threat to the neighborhood’s quiet, close-knit feel, with some residents warning that large groups and events could erode community trust.
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Genelaine Urbano
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