🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Twin Falls, ID
Twin Falls Keeps Short-Term Rental Market Unchanged After Council Vote
Twin Falls Takes a Pass on New Airbnb Rules
Airbnb and vacation rental hosts in Twin Falls can breathe a sigh of relief — the city isn’t moving forward with new short-term rental regulations. At Monday’s City Council meeting, a proposal to explore stricter rules for STRs was decisively shot down, leaving existing operations untouched.
The discussion began back in 2024, when some residents raised concerns about a new rental property under construction. City staff were asked to research what other Idaho cities were doing — things like permits, extra parking requirements, guest limits, and annual inspections. But when it came time to decide, council members said they weren’t ready to bring that kind of oversight to Twin Falls.
Councilman Chris Reid summed up the majority view: “I’m not comfortable with this. I think that this will just put time, energy on personal property owners who purchase these homes. It’s an investment for them.” His colleagues agreed, saying inspections, guest caps, and tracking systems would burden both staff and homeowners.
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Councilwoman Cherie Vollmer said the whole issue was one of the reasons she originally ran for office — and that she still opposes regulating Airbnbs. Councilman Craig Hawkins added he doesn’t see STRs as a major problem locally and questioned why the city would “expand government more.”
For now, Twin Falls will continue to allow short-term rentals to operate without special permits, inspections, or guest caps, making it one of the more hands-off jurisdictions in the region.
What to Know:
- No new rules: The City Council voted not to pursue STR regulations.
- Original push: Started in 2024 after resident concerns about a new rental property.
- Elsewhere in Idaho: Other cities require permits, parking, inspections, or guest limits.
- Twin Falls approach: Property-owner-friendly, no extra fees or bureaucracy (for now).
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