Short-Term Rentals: Daily Notes | August 31, 2026

TYBEE ISLAND, GA

Beginning January 1, 2027, short-term vacation rentals on Tybee Island will operate under a sector-based cap system approved by the City Council. The amended ordinance limits rentals in designated residential areas while leaving room for growth in zones better suited to tourism.

Owners must name an emergency contact who can respond promptly to complaints and noncompliance triggers fines. Residents hope the measures will strengthen enforcement against problem operators and management companies. City leaders said the delayed start date gives the industry time to comply and public workshops will roll out over the coming months.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ

A quiet loophole in short-term rental enforcement just closed in one of Arizona's busiest vacation markets as Scottsdale council members unanimously agreed on Aug. 24 that the contact person every rental must register should also answer police by phone or email when a complaint falls short of an emergency.

Until now, the code only required that person to be reachable around the clock and able to arrive at the property within an hour of an emergency call. Lesser complaints such as loud outdoor parties gave police no comparable tool to reach an owner.

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS

City leaders in Ocean Springs gathered for a workshop on Friday, August 28, 2026 to take stock of how short-term rentals are shaping local neighborhoods. The city currently limits residential permits to 115 while commercial rentals and properties inside overlay districts fall outside that cap.

Officials concluded that a full inventory and permit mapping system is needed before they can measure the true footprint of rentals across town. Mayor Bobby Cox recalled that an earlier moratorium cleared the waiting list and allowed rule changes that he says have been good for Ocean Springs.

BRIDGTON, ME

Voters will have the final say on short-term rental rules in Bridgton after town officials placed the proposed ordinance and related Land Use Code amendments on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The move follows an August 18 Planning Board public hearing and reflects a "let the people decide" approach.

If approved, the ordinance takes effect January 1, 2027 and requires annual registration through the Town Clerk with proof of primary residence and a local contact reachable within 60 minutes while occupancy would be capped by septic capacity or two guests per bedroom plus two.

RICHARDSON, TX

A summer-long pause on new short-term rental registrations has ended in Richardson where the temporary moratorium ran from late May through August 25. City staff spent those months using new software to build an inventory of STR properties and study where they cluster.

The rules on the other side of the pause are tougher than before and reflect what city staff learned while mapping short-term rentals across Richardson this summer. Once the City Council had reviewed complaints and enforcement activity on July 27, it approved amendments that raise the annual registration fee from $100 to $300 and keep new short-term rentals at least 500 feet away from existing ones.

BAYTOWN, TX

A proposed zoning change next to the ExxonMobil Baytown Event Center could bring short-term rentals to a stretch of Decker Drive and West Sterling Avenue in Baytown. The city wants to move roughly 4.98 acres of vacant lots and businesses into a Mixed-Use Neighborhood district that permits STRs alongside townhomes and commercial space. Officials describe it as a transition zone between the venue and the neighborhood to the east.

Residents can speak at a September 1 neighborhood meeting at the Sterling Municipal Library . The Planning and Zoning Commission takes up the request September 14 before City Council votes after an October 8 public hearing.

HOPKINS, MN

Short-term rental policy in Hopkins is back under the microscope after the Planning & Zoning Commission narrowly backed a conditional use permit on August 25, 2026. The 4-3 vote supports a rental at 125 Oakwood Road and now heads to the City Council on September 1. Residents of Interlachen Park warned the home would run as a turnover business for most of the year.

The application is only the third since the city adopted its 2022 rules and the first two were approved. Staff will bring back ordinance ideas including caps, spacing requirements, local contact rules and neighbor notification while a commissioner leads a working group on the issue.

HULL, MA

Buyer demand for short-term rental flexibility was not enough to sway Hull's Planning Board which denied a condo document modification at the Residences at the Aquarium on August 26. Co-owner Jonathan Leavitt sought permission for rentals under 30 days at the 21-unit waterfront building on Nantasket Avenue and lost on a 4-2 vote.

Check on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hulltimes/posts/pfbid02GzUXJ6zwxppRVpoCPmTKiZ69ApYTfEeqFXvaoCCDQqQHRmTYxndxrgRHEJVpScNMl

Although short-term rentals are allowed in the commercial recreation zone, the 2023 approval limited rentals to at least one month. With only four of the 21 units closed or under agreement, board members still said the change would alter the character of the property and could prompt similar requests from other owners.

MINNESOTA

On August 19, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz granted summary judgment to Bloomington and Apple Valley and rejected claims that their 30-day minimum stay rules amounted to an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment.

Property owner Constance Toupin had invested more than $35,000 renovating her Bloomington home and $45,000 on her Apple Valley home with plans to list both on Airbnb and VRBO. The court found no physical invasion occurred and that she still retains economically beneficial use since she can occupy, improve, sell, or lease the homes for 30 days or longer. The federal court ruling reinforces the legal footing of Minnesota cities that limit transient lodging in residential zones.

VERMONT

Housing advocates in Vermont are celebrating the Muddy Moose Project after eight short-term vacation rentals in Morristown became year-round homes. Downstreet Housing & Community Development placed six of the properties in its Shared Equity Housing program which keeps them permanently affordable. On August 27, Vermont Federal Credit Union announced its financing support for the effort led with Stowe Land Trust and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.

Morristown Town Report
Official town records highlight the Muddy Moose Project’s conversion of former vacation rentals into permanent, affordable homes; an example of local efforts to address short-term rental pressures on Vermont’s housing supply.

Learn more

The project also protects about 150 acres of forest and a gorge plus close to three quarters of a mile of river frontage and public trails. Vermont holds the second highest vacant home rate in the country with 75.8% of those homes reserved for seasonal or recreational use.

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In case you missed it:

Short-Term Rentals: Daily Notes | August 27, 2026

Cities address STRs. Brewster, MA launches registration program; Morgantown, KY covers rentals under room tax; Empire, MI approves ordinance 6-1; Wimberley, TX adopts rules and resumes permits; Folly Beach, SC halts new licenses; Santa Barbara County, CA; Middletown, RI. READ MORE.

Strisker - Short-term rental and data center regulationsJasmine Ruth Albatana

Short-Term Rentals: Daily Notes | August 26, 2026

Cities address STRs. Columbia Falls, MT to pay more taxes; Riverside County, CA tightens citation thresholds; Isle of Wight County, VA requires neighbor notice; Shiloh, IL issues special use permits; Fort Lauderdale, FL fines unlicensed operators; Milford, DE approves dual-use unit. READ MORE.

Strisker - Short-term rental and data center regulationsJasmine Ruth Albatana

Short-Term Rentals: Daily Notes | August 25, 2026

Cities address STRs. Little Falls, MN sets 3% tax; Magnolia, AR advances draft; Tampa, FL joins county registry; Conyers, GA backs legalization; Duluth, MN decides next steps; Nashville, IN; Philipstown, NY; Pinellas County, FL; St. Louis, MO. READ MORE.

Strisker - Short-term rental and data center regulationsJasmine Ruth Albatana

Strisker News Tracker

Trying to keep up with STR and data center regulations across multiple cities and states? Our News Tracker makes it easier than ever. Filter by location, search a comprehensive database, and sort by impact level—this tool helps you focus on what matters most.

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