Daily Regulatory Notes 11/26/2024
INSIDE: Houston will introduce an STR ordinance requiring registration and penalties for violations. Delaware's new law will implement a 4.5% lodging tax starting in 2025. Summit County proposes increased fees for STR licenses to fund new software. Niskayuna votes on new STR regulations in December.
Every day, we bring you a detailed overview of recent news and updates about primary decisions, community feedback, or legislative changes relevant to the short-term rental industry. 📰
Houston, TX
Houston is set to introduce a new ordinance in the coming months that will tighten regulations on short-term rentals (STRs) across the city, bringing relief to neighborhood residents.
Check out the proposed ordinance here.
The proposed ordinance would require STR owners to apply for a city-issued certificate of registration, which could be revoked if there are issues like criminal activity, unpaid taxes, or improper insurance.
Delaware
Delaware will introduce a 4.5% lodging tax on short-term rentals starting Jan. 1, 2025, impacting property owners and rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Under the law signed in September, all operators and accommodations intermediaries must obtain an annual $25 business license and display the license number on marketing materials. They are also responsible for collecting and remitting the tax unless otherwise agreed.
For more information, check out the technical guidance here.
Summit County, UT
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from Monday...
Summit County is considering a fee hike for business licenses – including short-term rental licenses – to fund new software that would help track short-term rentals more effectively.
“We think that having a software solution that collects and aggregates data about the short-term rentals in Summit County will help us zero in on what the issues are and how we want to address them,” Clerk Eve Furse told the Summit County Council on Wednesday. The Park Record
Furse proposed increasing short-term rental license fees from $200 to $325, with a second option of $350, to help pay for the software and additional enforcement resources. If approved, the fee increases would take effect in 2025, and a letter would be sent to businesses to notify them in advance.
Wellington, FL
Wellington has introduced a 24/7 hotline and updated regulations to address recurring issues with short-term rentals, including noise, trash, and parking complaints. The hotline allows residents to report disturbances by phone or online, upload evidence, and prompt property owners to take corrective action.
If owners fail to respond, cases are escalated to Code Compliance or law enforcement. Properties with repeated violations face escalating penalties, including permit suspensions of up to two years and mandatory noise-monitoring devices. If deputies are called to a property more than twice in 30 days or seven times in six months, owners must submit action plans to address the problems.
Check out more information about Wellington's Vacation Rental Hotline.
Niskayuna, NY
Niskayuna’s Town Board is preparing to vote on comprehensive short-term rental regulations that will address resident complaints about disruptions caused by rental properties. The proposal mandates a minimum seven-day rental period, annual operator permits, off-street parking, and limits on guest numbers tied to the home’s size.
Read the proposed amendments here...
Hosted rentals would be allowed in residential zones, but unhosted rentals would be restricted to commercial districts. The Town Board is set to vote on the proposal on Dec. 17, with implementation planned for Jan. 1, 2025.
```New York
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from 11/21/24...
New York City’s Local Law 18, which banned many short-term rentals in 2023, may soon face significant revisions. A new bill, No. 1107, has been introduced by city council members to allow homeowners of one- and two-family homes to rent their properties for shorter stays.
If passed, these homeowners would no longer have to be present during guests' stays, could rent to up to four adults plus children (instead of two), and could install locks on bedroom doors, a feature currently prohibited. The bill also requires that these homes be registered with the city, though hosts offering long-term rentals (30 days or more) remain exempt.
Park Township, MI
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation from Monday...
The Park Township Neighbors (PTN) group is continuing its fight against the municipality’s short-term rental (STR) restrictions, despite the recent dismissal of their lawsuit. PTN intends to bring the matter before the Park Township Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to seek non-conforming status for homeowners who operated STRs before the April 2024 zoning ordinance update.
Check out the full court decision here.
The PTN lawsuit claims the township improperly amended the zoning laws without adequate public hearings. The judge ruled that PTN must first seek approval from the ZBA before bringing the case back to court.
Sedona, AZ
The Sedona Verde Valley Association of Realtors (SVVAR) is funding a study to analyze the economic impact of short-term rentals (STRs) in Yavapai County, particularly in Sedona and the Verde Valley. With concerns over local housing shortages and the role STRs play, SVVAR aims to provide empirical data to highlight their economic benefits.
… our experiences and the experience of our neighbors differ, and thus we feel a research study is the best way to show everyone the economic impact STRs have and the challenges removing them would create for our communities.” SVVAR president Wyndie Whitney said. Sedona Red Rock News.
The study, conducted by RRC Associates, will examine various factors, including rental rates, occupancy rates, taxes paid, the proportion of STRs owned by corporations, and their contribution to local tourism jobs. The study’s results will be released in late 2024, followed by a public presentation in a town hall early next year.
To know more about Sedona's Short-Term Rental Regulation, check out the ordinance here.