Daily Regulatory Notes 10/28/2025
Cities address STRs. Sausalito, CA bans advertisement; Bakersfield, CA drafts ordinance; Wayzata, MN files lawsuit; Maui County, HI discusses bill; Riley County, KS proposes regulations; Sussex County, DE reviews tax collections; Maricopa County, AZ; New Orleans, LA; Carrboro, NC. READ MORE.
Sausalito is cracking down on illegal short-term rentals by banning advertisements for stays under 30 days and introducing steep new fines.
Property owners who post listings on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo now face penalties of $1,500 for a first offense, $3,000 for a second, and $5,000 for repeat violations. City officials say the move closes a long-standing enforcement gap that made it difficult to penalize hosts who claimed their listings were inactive.
Bakersfield officials are drafting the city’s first short-term rental ordinance to regulate listings on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, which currently operate without oversight.
The proposal, still months away from a formal draft, could include permits, transient occupancy tax collection, local contact requirements, and stricter noise and parking rules. City staff are also considering outsourcing compliance to a third-party firm—like Deckard Technologies—to provide monitoring, complaint hotlines, and tax collection at a lower cost than an in-house program.
A group of Wayzata property owners has filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s new ban on short-term rentals, arguing officials failed to follow proper procedures before passing the ordinance.
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The measure, approved in September and set to take effect next April, prohibits rentals under 30 days, effectively banning Airbnb and Vrbo listings in the city. The plaintiffs claim the city did not hold a required public hearing and that the ban conflicts with state and local laws. They are asking a judge to block enforcement and allow existing hosts to continue operating.
Maui County’s Housing and Land Use Committee recessed Wednesday after debating how to proceed with Bill 9, a sweeping proposal to phase out short-term rentals in apartment-zoned areas.
The committee discussed a dual-track plan to advance the bill while creating new hotel zoning categories for select properties, though some councilmembers questioned the risk of moving forward before those zones are established. Testimony remained split between residents demanding more housing for locals and property owners warning of economic damage and “unconstitutional” takings.
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Riley County officials are moving forward with new short-term rental regulations aimed at tightening oversight in unincorporated areas outside city limits.
The proposed changes include requiring a 500-foot buffer between STRs, ensuring all property taxes and fees are paid before licensing, and mandating that responsible agents respond in person within an hour of complaints. Planning staff say the amendments are designed to reduce noise, parking, and accountability issues among the 30 rentals currently operating on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. The Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board will hold a public hearing on November 3, with final County Commission review expected in mid-November.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Tourism leaders in Sussex County are raising alarms over a $1.3 million gap in Delaware’s short-term rental tax collections, citing discrepancies between state reports and AirDNA estimates.
Southern Delaware Tourism Director Scott Thomas says the missing revenue from June could reflect compliance or enforcement issues among STR platforms. The group is pressing the Division of Revenue for answers, noting that the shortfall impacts funding for tourism promotion and beach preservation. As of late October, the state has not issued a formal response.
Maricopa County’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted 9-0 on Oct. 23 to advance a new ordinance updating local rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and short-term rentals to align with recent Arizona legislation.
The proposal allows ADUs on smaller lots by right, limits their size, and adds an affordability requirement for additional units on larger parcels. It also formally defines short-term rentals, restricting them to owner-occupied properties and banning their use for events or commercial purposes. The Board of Supervisors will consider the ordinance on Nov. 19 under an emergency schedule to meet state deadlines.
The New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to direct the City Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on creating a transient lodging interim zoning district (IZD) that would require conditional-use approval for hotels, motels, short-term rentals, and similar uses.
The move aims to strengthen oversight of commercial short-term rentals while the city awaits a long-delayed third-party lodging study. Supporters say the measure would protect neighborhoods from over-saturation, while opponents argue it adds legal risks and procedural hurdles. The City Planning Commission is now tasked with reviewing the proposal and releasing the long-awaited study to guide next steps.
Carrboro officials are weighing how to balance affordable housing goals with growing concerns over short-term rentals.
During an Oct. 14 work session, the Town Council reviewed draft updates to the town’s Unified Development Ordinance, including potential changes for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and “tourist houses.” Consultant Chad Meadows said easing ADU restrictions could help expand affordable housing, but some council members warned it could also fuel more short-term rentals that alter neighborhood character.
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