Daily Regulatory Notes 11/17/2025
Cities address STRs. Missouri joins other state in targeting STRs; Sandpoint ID prepares for overhaul; Wimberley, TX approves moratorium; Kansas City, MO discusses temporary program; Plainfield, NJ discuses proposed ordinance; Natchez, MS; Biloxi, MS; New Franklin, OH; Belton, MO. READ MORE.
Missouri
States and counties across the U.S. are ramping up tourism and lodging taxes, with Missouri joining places like Colorado, New York, and Michigan in targeting short-term rentals and hotels.
Perry County’s new 6% tax mirrors similar moves in Eagle County, CO, and Saratoga County, NY, where increases are aimed at supporting local services and tourism infrastructure. Many regions are also eliminating exemptions so vacation rentals are taxed the same as traditional lodging. Other areas, such as Muskegon County, MI, and Wake County, NC, are tightening compliance to ensure all operators remit correctly.
Sandpoint officials announced that the city is preparing a major overhaul of its short-term rental ordinance to avoid lawsuits challenging local STR caps across Idaho.
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The city currently limits STRs in residential zones to 35, but staff warned that restriction is legally vulnerable and likely to be overturned. The proposed rewrite, heading to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 18, would remove the cap and bring the ordinance in line with state law.
Wimberley City Council voted 3–1 to approve a 120-day moratorium on short-term rental applications that require a conditional use permit, aiming to pause new STR approvals while the city develops clearer and more consistent policies.
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City staff noted that CUP applications already take 30–45 days to process, making delayed implementation less meaningful. The moratorium begins immediately while a new committee reviews STR rules and prepares recommendations.
Kansas City is moving toward a new temporary short-term rental program that would let residents rent out their homes during major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The ordinance would allow a 90-day STR window when the city determines that lodging demand exceeds available accommodations. The temporary permit would cost just $50, far cheaper than the standard annual $200 registration, while still requiring operators to follow existing STR rules.
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Plainfield’s proposed short-term rental ordinance faces pushback as residents argue the 90-night annual cap and owner-occupancy requirement would effectively shut down most STR operations.
Hosts say the rules are too restrictive, especially with a 15-rental yearly limit and a ban on multiple simultaneous bookings. Several operators emphasized that Plainfield lacks hotels, making STRs an essential lodging option for visitors and a critical income source for homeowners. The council ultimately tabled the ordinance to consider amendments after hearing public concerns.
The Natchez Board of Aldermen backed the Planning Commission’s decision to grant a variance for a Homochitto Street short-term rental, resolving an appeal that alleged the property had been operating without proper approvals.
During the meeting, city staff verified that the owners had paid the necessary registration fee and taxes, noting that the issue stemmed from misplaced paperwork rather than noncompliance, prompting the variance to be processed retroactively. While one alderman objected on zoning grounds, citing prohibitions on STRs in the R-2 district, a majority agreed the ordinance allowed the variance and that the prior public hearing was sufficient for action.
Airbnb has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Biloxi of illegally restricting short-term rentals through ordinances that ban STRs in most residential zones and cap permits at 75.
The complaint alleges the city coordinated with the Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association, pointing to rules that require notifying the association of every STR application. Airbnb argues these restrictions shut out property owners, inflate hotel prices, and violate federal and state antitrust laws.
New Franklin City Council continued discussions on proposed short-term rental regulations, which would govern rentals of fewer than 30 days.
Residents voiced concerns over minimum distance requirements between properties, while some owners argued that a $1,000 annual permit fee is steep but acceptable with spacing rules. No formal action was taken, with the committee tasked to refine the regulations. The next council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19.
Belton’s City Council advanced the first reading of an ordinance that would finally legalize short-term rentals under a controlled framework, limiting them to Old Town and large lots of three acres or more.
The proposal requires a special-use permit, annual inspections, re/hrgistration, and hotel-motel tax compliance, with fees totaling $270 for new applicants. Staff estimate only a small number of properties—five to ten—would likely convert to STR use.
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