Daily Regulatory Notes 09/02/2025
Cities address STRs. Mckinney, TX advances ordinance; Aspen, CO reaffirms enforcement; Weldon Spring, MO prepares regulation; Ithaca, NY & Wexford County, MI approve amendment; Dexter Township, MI delays enforcement; Wells, MI reviews regulation; Bel Air, MD proposes rule. READ MORE.
City officials move to strengthen short-term rental tax collection by advancing an ordinance that would require VRBO to collect and remit hotel occupancy taxes, aligning it with Airbnb, which already contributes significantly to local revenue.
City of McKinney
The change addresses past compliance gaps and is expected to boost funds for community development and public services. Leaders frame the move as a step toward fairness across platforms and a way to support the city’s tourism-driven economy as visitor demand grows.
Officials reaffirm the 2022 short-term rental caps, choosing not to add permits in the city’s residential/multifamily zone despite a long waitlist.
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The cap remains at 190 permits, down from 254 active when the program began, and staff expect attrition will soon open spots for new applicants. While some zones remain under capacity, the council resists adjusting caps by district, citing concerns about fairness and zoning consistency.
Weldon Spring officials are preparing to regulate short-term rentals after complaints surfaced when a dozen roofers stayed in a neighborhood property earlier this year, prompting parking and noise issues.
City leaders say just a few STRs exist in the town, but draft rules under consideration would require business licenses, occupancy inspections, a 500-foot buffer between rentals, and bans on outdoor signage and secondary structures being rented. The proposal is expected to go before the zoning commission in October, with a public hearing and Board of Aldermen review later this year.
The Town Board approves an amendment adding new restrictions to short-term rentals in conservation zones, allowing them only in a property owner’s primary residence, another unit on the same lot, or one adjacent parcel under the same ownership.
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The change keeps existing parcel-size limits on rental days while exempting most pre-existing structures, except in the Lakefront Residential Zone. The update drew support during the public hearing, with neighbors describing conservation areas as well-suited for small-scale rentals, and the board also moved forward on hiring a monitoring service to improve enforcement.
STRisker Government Office Dashboard
Trying to keep up with the main players in the STR game? Know your councilmembers, commissioners, committee chairs, and key staff that are part of the process.
Short-term rentals remain unresolved in Dexter Township as the board stops short of action after a public hearing, scheduling further work sessions ahead of a possible Sept. 16 decision.
STRs are not officially recognized in the zoning code, though more than 20 have been operating in recent years. A Planning Commission proposal would permit them only in Agricultural and General Commercial zones, subject to licensing, zoning standards, and administrative approval for special events. The board is now requesting legal review of the proposed ordinance language before deciding whether to adopt or return it for revision.
Officials move to open the door to short-term rentals in Cadillac’s B-3 General Business District, voting to amend the ordinance so STRs can operate with a special land use permit.
The change comes after residents like Nick Lietaert challenged rules that prohibited STRs even though motels and other businesses were allowed, prompting commissioners to acknowledge the inconsistency. Alongside the STR change, commissioners approved plans for a four-unit apartment complex, with city staff highlighting its role in diversifying housing options. Both measures will advance to City Council for final approval.
Wells officials are moving toward a structured short-term rental ordinance after an August 19 Select Board meeting that underscored both the opportunities and risks of STRs.
The board reviewed a regulatory toolkit and debated key issues, including whether to permit STRs townwide or only in certain zones, how to define them—30 days or less versus a one-week minimum—and whether to impose licensing, caps, or voluntary compliance periods to bring operators into the system. The discussion closed with consensus on the need for a balanced ordinance that protects property rights but also safeguards housing and neighborhood stability, with drafting work to continue in the months ahead.
Bel Air commissioners are moving forward with proposed rule changes for short-term rentals, introducing new definitions and performance standards that would tightly regulate where and how they operate.
The draft rules define STRs as rentals of “28 continuous days or less” and would restrict them to business districts only, while requiring a town license, prohibiting signage, and mandating that owners or caretakers live in Harford County. A public hearing on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for Sept. 15, giving residents a chance to weigh in on how Bel Air should shape its rental landscape.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
READ: Daily Regulatory Notes 09/01/2025
Crystel
Crystel
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