Weekly Regulatory Briefing (44)

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

• 📍 Scottsdale, AZ: Residents cry “Homes, Not Hotels” and “Short Term Rentals Ruin Neighborhoods.” over concerns on the impact of short-term rentals on their neighborhoods. Scottsdale’s Assistant City Manager Brent Stockwell stated that while the city can’t ban STRs, it is collaborating with other Arizona municipalities to seek more local regulatory power over STRs.
• 🌴 Palm Springs, CA: The Palm Springs Administrative Appeals Board is exploring updates to its short-term rental ordinance to improve awareness and compliance. Proposed changes could include making it mandatory for escrow/title companies to disclose rental restrictions and permit requirements at closing. Additional discussion will be had on November 13.

Daily Regulatory Notes 10/30/24

Ocean City, MD Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Nov 19, 2024 - 18:30 This is a Planning Commission meeting. Is a vote scheduled? TBD. More details - Live video - Meeting Details Palm Springs, CA Planning Commission Meeting - Cancelled Oct 23, 2024 - 17:30 This is

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• 🏔️ South Lake Tahoe, CA: South Lake Tahoe’s Measure N could impose a substantial tax on vacant homes to tackle workforce housing shortages - a $3,000 yearly tax, increasing to $6,000 for prolonged vacancies, to generate funds for affordable housing, public transit, and infrastructure projects.
• 🏙️ Normal, IL: On Monday, the Town of Normal is weighing a six-month moratorium on new short-term rentals (STRs). If approved, the moratorium will be effective on November 14.
• 🏞️ Dexter Township, MI: A couple's investment in a lakefront property for short-term rental use has sparked debate over local zoning regulations. Following this, officials are considering implementing zoning regulations to allow short term rentals and establish local rules.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• 🏔️ Colorado: As Colorado approaches the legislative elections, short-term rentals and housing affordability are hot topics, with state involvement sparking controversy. Lawmakers plan to revisit issues such as taxes on second-home owners and short-term rentals.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• 🎸 Nashville, TN: Metron Council approved October 15 a proposed legislation aimed at tightening regulations for owner-occupied short-term rental permits received attention.
• 🏞️ Stowe, VT: Approved October 23, Stowe property owners will soon face a $100 per unit fee to cover the costs of a new short-term rental registry, effective next May.
• 🌊 Bay St. Louis, MS: The city is now requiring all short-term rental operators to acquire a city permit to comply with safety and operational standards. All applications must be completed by December 31, 2024.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• 📍 Cambridge, MA: City Council voted Monday to provide stricter rules for short-term rentals such as requesting zoning language, new provisions require hosts to be on-site when renting individual rooms, stricter ID requirements for registration, and more.
• 🛣️ Rockford, IL: On October 28, Rockford’s Code and Regulations Committee discussed an ordinance that may introduce occupancy limits, restrict street parking, require contact for property management, and more.
• 🏙️ Glenn Falls, NY: Following a Public Survey, Glens Falls is drafting a new regulation that would ban short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods with single-family homes.
• 🏖️ Spring Lake, MI: The Village of Spring Lake is considering potential policy changes on short-term rentals primarily on the Short-Term Rental Overlay Zone, “which limits rentals based on geography rather than zoning or placing a maximum cap for a certain number of properties to be approved for rental.”
• 📍 Stillwater, OK: Local government and residents are reviewing the impact of short-term rentals and discussing possible regulatory updates. Key concerns included safety, noise, parking, neighborhood character, and housing affordability.
• 🏘️ Queen Anne’s County, MD: Commissioners are considering a new short-term rental ordinance that will potentially require owners or managers to be within 25 miles, set occupancy limits, require all parking to be on-site, and more. Residents may submit comments before the ordinance goes to a vote on Nov. 12.

Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱

Communities are increasingly voicing concerns about the impact of short-term rentals (STRs) on neighborhood character and housing affordability. As a response, cities are implementing more targeted regulations and tighter controls in residential areas.

What This Means:

• 🤔 Community Concerns Driving Localized Regulations: More communities are voicing concerns over their impact on local character, neighborhood quality, and housing affordability. Places like Scottsdale, AZ, where residents are calling for “Homes, Not Hotels,” illustrate a growing push for tighter controls in residential areas. Similarly, Queen Anne’s County, MD is considering stricter rules to address safety and neighborhood cohesion.
• 📊 Escalating Efforts for Platform Accountability: More municipalities are holding platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo accountable for compliance. Palm Springs, CA, is exploring requirements for escrow and title companies to disclose STR restrictions at property closing, signaling a trend toward making platforms an active part of the regulatory framework. Expect to see more areas requiring platforms to oversee legal compliance of STR listings.
• 🏠 Innovative Approaches to Workforce Housing: Efforts to address housing shortages through STR restrictions and vacancy taxes are emerging. South Lake Tahoe’s Measure N proposes a vacant home tax aimed at generating funds for affordable housing, transit, and infrastructure, indicating a move toward using STR regulations as a tool for broader community needs.

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• 📍 Alexandria, VA: City Staff plans to make further changes in proposed regulations based on public input. The public can still submit feedback until November 17. Survey can be found here.
• 🌊 Ocean City, MD: The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission’s proposed amendments to short-term rental regulations in R-1 and MH districts could introduce new occupancy limits based on bedrooms and impose minimum stay durations. Another public hearing will be hosted on November 19 to gather input before moving forward.
• 🏞️ Chelan County, WA: The county’s Planning Commission is set to hold a hearing on November 13 to address targeted adjustments to its short-term rental (STR) code, particularly in areas like onsite parking, occupancy limits, and some administrative language. To submit your comments, email CD.Comment@co.chelan.wa.us.
• 🏠 Perry City, UT: A public hearing will be held on Nov. 7 to gather input on potential short-term rental regulations.