Short-Term Rentals: Daily Notes | November 3, 2026
Cities address STRs. Hawaii County, HI advances Bill 147; Eureka, CA votes on 12% lodging tax; Sumter County, FL Airbnb case ends in probation; Galveston, TX takes over rental hotline; Montgomery County, MD probes teen party; Boulder, CO tops 1,800 festival licenses. READ MORE.
HAWAII COUNTY, HI
Bill 147 which would redefine short-term rentals as stays under 180 days rather than under 30, cleared first reading before the County Council last week and a final vote is expected in December. The bill would let hosted rentals operate in residential zones and on pre-1976 agricultural lots without a use permit, allow more than five bedrooms in resort areas and require a warning before fines.
Official county notice confirming Bill 147 (Draft 3) passed its first reading on October 21, 2026 by a 7–0 vote with two councilmembers absent.
Three members who backed it said they are unsure about the final reading while enforcement in residential zones is paused until December 31 under Ordinance 26-63.
A 6-Month Vacation? Hawaiʻi Council Deadlocked On Short-Term Rental Bill: A bill would expand where vacation rentals are allowed and lengthen the rental period considered short-term to 180… www.civilbeat.org/2026/11/hawaii-council-deadlocked-on-short-term-rental-bill/ #HInews pic.twitter.com/8UUPH8sEWC
— Honolulu Civil Beat (@CivilBeat) November 2, 2026
EUREKA, CA
🎧 Listen to KMUD News’ coverage of Eureka’s Measure I: Listen here
Voters decide Measure I on November 3 which would raise the city’s transient occupancy tax from 10% to 12% for hotels, motels, campgrounds and short-term vacation rentals booked for 30 days or less.
Eureka Measure I, Official Ballot Documents
If a simple majority approves it, the higher rate takes effect January 1, 2027 and is expected to bring in about $700,000 a year for the general fund which can pay for police, fire, street repair and homelessness prevention while some hotel operators argued the increase could make the city less competitive as a destination.
SUMTER COUNTY, FL
One year of probation and 20 hours of community service were ordered for a 29-year-old man who pleaded no contest last week in Sumter County Court to domestic battery at an Airbnb in The Villages. Wildwood police responded on August 4 after he grabbed a phone from the mother of his child at the rental he was paying for and shoved her when she tried to take it back, and officers also found he was wanted on multiple warrants in Georgia.
Neighbors in The Villages often complain about short-term rentals over loud music, parking, heavy drinking and excess trash.
GALVESTON, TX
Short-term rental complaints now go to a 24-hour hotline staffed by the city after officials brought the line in-house and ended the use of third-party vendors as fines and court costs from code violations reached $25,384. Residents can call 409-797-3990 and staff will contact the rental’s local representative or refer unresolved cases to the City Marshal’s Office.
Government Websites by CivicPlus®
The city has filed 264 violations in Municipal Court since taking over oversight in October 2025 including 52 convictions and 74 cases awaiting arraignment, and plans to hire an additional deputy for a seven-day night shift.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/wSAzGfmZJfk
Police are reviewing whether county rules were broken after a Halloween party at a North Bethesda short-term rental drew hundreds of teens on October 31 with the crowd spilling into the street and onto the roof.
No arrests or citations were issued and the owner said he had rented the home to two people before reporting the incident to police, Booking.com and Airbnb. County law allows fines of up to $5,000 for certain violations tied to unlicensed commercial house parties although police have not said this party broke that law.
BOULDER, CO
More than 1,800 applications have been submitted for the city’s new Festival Lodging Rental License as of October 22, topping the goal of 1,500 ahead of the Sundance Film Festival’s Boulder debut. The license lets homeowners and tenants rent for 29 days or fewer during a designated festival period which runs January 11 to February 9, 2027 for Sundance, and bars advertising at other times of year.
Applications still arrive at about 40 per week while the city also received 520 applications for its standard short-term rental license compared with 216 in 2025.
📱 Social Buzz
🎤 Episode Title: How To Keep Airbnb Hot Tubs Safe Between Guests
🎤 Episode: The Pool Guy Podcast Show
📻 Listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/episodes/20028707-how-to-keep-airbnb-hot-tubs-safe-between-guests.mp3
Hudson Council Eyes Main Street Patio Plan, Short Term Rental Caps and Sidewalk Funding Gap
— neohio - Northeast Ohio News (@neohionews) November 2, 2026
Read the article on neohio {dot} news https://t.co/1g1S8Y3D6K pic.twitter.com/GTu2IuBwbU
Why a Colorado Supreme Court case could have ‘far-reaching consequence’ for short-term rental regulations on the Western Slope https://t.co/MoY9QJSJHd
— The Aspen Times (@TheAspenTimes) November 2, 2026
Patton Township’s Board of Supervisors recently approved new regulations for short-term rental properties, most significantly addressing non-owner-occupied houses used for services like Airbnb and Vrbo.
— StateCollege.com (@StateCollegecom) November 2, 2026
The changes came after a year-long review following the township’s adoption…
Northport, Alabama is weighing new short-term rental rules that would require smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, clear emergency exits and a visible address. Even where none of that is the law yet, it makes a great pre-holiday safety checklist.
— Hostfully (@hostfully) November 3, 2026
In case you missed it:
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