Weekly Regulatory Briefing (43)

Each week, we bring together the biggest updates in short-term rental regulations from coast to coast. Whether it’s fresh local regulations, emerging trends, or major discussions, our briefing provides all you need to stay in the know.

Top Stories This Week 📰

• 🚫🏡 Buffalo, NY: Buffalo's Common Council is set to discuss a moratorium on granting special-use permits for non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, like Airbnb, as the city faces quality-of-life issues linked to a surge in these rentals.
• 📄 Seabrook, SC - During an October 15 meeting, the town of Seabrook Island is considering capping the number of short-term rentals (STRs). Learn more about the draft included in their October 15 Meeting Agenda.
• 🏢✅ Medina, OH - The City Council is reviewing new zoning rules that would allow short-term rentals in commercial districts and conditionally in residential areas at 4000-feet from the town center. Proposed amendments would set parking and occupancy limits and prohibit events at these properties, while also updating definitions for fitness facilities in various commercial zones.
• 🏘️👥 Nevada City, CA - The City of Nevada City is considering revising its short-term rental ordinance following community concerns at a recent workshop where residents expressed their worries about the impact of short-term rentals on neighborhood character and housing availability. Currently, the ordinance permits short-term rentals in all residential zones and mandates annual registration and a local presence for owners or managers.

Regional Highlights 🌍

• 📜 Kentucky - A lobbyist for the short-term rental industry urged a Kentucky legislative committee to pass two bills aimed at limiting local governments' ability to regulate short-term rentals. The bills would:Read more about what's happening here.
  • prevent the use of conditional use permits for unhosted short-term rentals.
  • allow tenants to rent out apartments with the owner's permission.
• 🏛️ Utah - A lawmaker aims to propose a repeal of HB0253 - Utah Legislature, which prohibits cities from using online listings as proof of an illegal short-term rental.

New Ordinances Approved ✅

• 🔥🏡 Winter Park, CO - The Winter Park Town Council has unanimously passed Ordinance 624 in an October 1 Council Meeting, requiring fire and life safety inspections for all short-term rental properties by August 1, 2025.
• West Windsor, VT - West Windsor's new short-term rental ordinance, approved by the Selectboard on September 23, introduces a licensing system for operators, requiring annual fees and documentation to ensure compliance with state health, safety, and tax regulations. Effective May 1 🔔
• Georgetown, TX - Beginning November 1, Georgetown, Texas, will require all Airbnb and Vrbo operators to obtain city approval before renting their properties. Read the full ordinance here.
• Matthews, NC - New text amendments approved by the Matthews Board of Commissioners that adds the short-term rental regulations to the Unified Development Ordinance. The new ordinance becomes effective on Nov 14, 2024. All property owners are required to comply by January 14, 2025.
• 🛑 Muskegon, MI - Muskegon City officially passed a new short-term rental ordinance that caps short-term rentals in the city. The ordinance will simultaneously lift the moratorium on new STR licenses that have been in place. More on this ordinance here. Effective November 8.
• 📋 Denton, TX - Last October 22, Denton City Council approved new restrictions on short-term rentals, capping the total number at 1,000, a maximum of two certificates per parcel, and a requirement of a 100-foot separation between properties. The registration period is one year, from Jan. 1 until Dec. 31. Properties registered by January 1 will be allowed to be grandfathered in under the new rules.

Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱

As short-term rentals (STRs) proliferate, communities are raising their voices, emphasizing the need for balance. Cities like Nevada City are seeing residents actively push back against the influx of STRs, fearing they’re losing the essence of their neighborhoods. This trend highlights a critical shift where local character and quality of life take center stage in STR discussions.

What This Means:

Increased Local Engagement: More communities are embracing open dialogues with residents, encouraging feedback on STR policies to ensure decisions reflect the sentiments of those who live there.

Evolving Regulations: Local governments are stepping up their game, crafting tighter regulations to manage STRs effectively. From moratoriums on new permits in Buffalo to licensing systems in West Windsor, it’s clear that authorities are trying to strike a balance between tourism benefits and preserving community integrity.

Stricter Compliance Measures: As municipalities grapple with STR growth, many are implementing rigorous compliance checks to ensure operators meet safety and health standards, reflecting a commitment to protecting both residents and visitors.

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• Woodstock, NY - The Zoning Revision Committee is working on a Short-Term Rental Law. All input and comments are encouraged. Share your thoughts here - the link will be open until December 15. 📝
• Warwick, NY - The Warwick Village Board held a public hearing on October 21 to gather feedback on a proposed short-term rental law. The public hearing remains open until November 18. ⏳
• Palm Coast, FL - The Palm Coast City Council is set to vote on it’s proposed short term rental ordinance on December 4.
• Columbia, TN - On October 23, at 5pm, a public forum was held by the City of Columbia. If you missed it, you can still share your opinions in their survey form. All comments shall be presented by the Planning Staff to the Planning Commission on December 4, 2024. 💬
• Chelan County, WA - The Chelan County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Nov. 13 to discuss proposed updates to the county’s short-term rental code. 📅