Weekly Regulatory Briefing (13) 03/27/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Florida: The death of a child at a Miami-Dade short-term rental is raising regulatory concerns about safety compliance and advertising standards within the STR market.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Maryland: Maryland lawmakers have approved a first-in-the-nation statewide bill requiring short-term rentals to meet baseline fire and carbon monoxide safety standards.
• Tennessee: Proposed legislation in Tennessee is raising concerns about the future of short-term rental regulation, as it would require local governments to compensate property owners if zoning changes reduce property value.
• Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced H.B. 2303, a bill that would establish a statewide regulatory framework for short-term rentals, aiming to create consistent baseline standards while still allowing local flexibility.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Yachats, OR: The Yachats City Council has unanimously approved updates to its vacation rental license code, finalizing months of discussion focused on balancing tourism and neighborhood character.
• Alpena, MI: Alpena city officials have approved a temporary one-year moratorium on new short-term rentals as they respond to an ongoing housing shortage, with vacancy rates for rentals and for-sale homes far below healthy levels.
• South Lake Tahoe, CA: The South Lake Tahoe City Council has adopted amendments to its Vacation Home Rental ordinance, replacing prior spacing restrictions with a citywide cap of 900 permits in residential areas as it recalibrates STR oversight.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Charlottesville, VA: Charlottesville’s Planning Commission is set to review proposed changes to the city’s homestay ordinance, including requiring property owners to submit a compliance affidavit, increasing permit fees to $500 for a three-year period, and reducing the annual rental cap to 90 nights for properties in residential zones.
• Lead, SD: Lead city officials are moving to strengthen enforcement of short-term rental rules after approving the first reading of an ordinance that introduces a complaint-based penalty system for licensed operators.
• Allendale Township, MI: Allendale Township is weighing new zoning rules that would formally allow short-term rentals but cap them at 50 units across the community.
• New Franklin, OH: ew Franklin’s City Council once again delayed action on a proposed short-term rental ordinance at its March 4 meeting, as debate continues over whether to include a 300-foot spacing rule between STR units.
• Baytown, TX: Baytown’s Planning and Zoning Commission has rejected proposed short-term rental regulations, with members voting against rules that would have allowed STRs in residential zones.
• Nashville, TN: As Nashville’s short-term rental market tightens under stricter regulations and declining returns, The Costigan Group has introduced a pre-acquisition screening framework designed to help investors navigate zoning restrictions and avoid costly missteps.
• Athens, GA: Athens-Clarke County is moving forward with its short-term rental regulations adopted in 2024, with enforcement now focused on phasing out non-compliant properties ahead of a March 2027 deadline tied to the ordinance’s sunset provision.
• Lincoln, RI: Lincoln’s strict short-term rental ordinance is expected to limit local hosting opportunities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the town continues to prohibit STRs in residential zones and allows them only in commercial and industrial districts.
• Malvern, PA: Short-term rental hosts are being cautioned about potential insurance gaps, with the Insurance Information Institute noting that standard homeowners policies typically do not cover commercial uses like STRs.
• Smithfield, RI: Smithfield officials are preparing to introduce a new short-term rental ordinance as the town anticipates increased demand tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite expressing general opposition to STR activity.
• Charleston County, SC: A proposed update in Charleston County could increase transparency around short-term rentals by requiring notifications when limited home rental permits are approved or renewed.
• Louisville, CO: Louisville officials are moving toward temporarily allowing short-term rentals for the 2027 Sundance Film Festival, as the city considers an ordinance that would permit STRs for a limited window surrounding the event despite an existing ban.
• University Park, TX: University Park is revisiting its approach to short-term rentals as residents weigh competing concerns during a recent Planning and Zoning Commission hearing.
• Buchanan, MI: Buchanan is moving forward with technical updates to its short-term rental regulations, with city commissioners reviewing amendments designed to better align zoning code language with rules already in place.
• Covington, GA: Covington city officials are opting not to expand restrictions on short-term rentals after a proposal to prohibit business activity inside STR properties was narrowly voted down 2–3 on March 16.
• Carmel, IN: Carmel’s ability to regulate short-term rentals has been significantly weakened after the passage of House Enrolled Act 1210, which effectively voids the city’s existing restrictions and approval requirements.
• Salem, OR: Salem officials are moving forward with new short-term rental regulations after unanimously approving a 2% fee on STR bookings, adding to the existing 9% lodging tax and aligning the sector more closely with hotel taxation.
• Columbia Falls, MT: Columbia Falls officials are actively weighing new regulations for short-term rentals, with the planning commission recommending a primary-residence-based model similar to Bozeman’s but without caps or zoning limits.
• Walton County, FL: Walton County is stepping up enforcement of short-term vacation rental regulations, focusing on improving compliance with tourist development tax (TDT) payments and mandatory fire safety inspections.

📲 Social Buzz

🎤 Episode Title: Short-Term Rentals Are on Town Meeting Agendas
🎤 Episode: On The Vineyard

📻 Listen:https://omny.fm/shows/on-the-vineyard/short-term-rentals-are-on-town-meeting-agendas

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• Buchanan, MI: The proposed changes would not alter the existing STR framework, which includes a designated overlay district, but instead aim to improve clarity and enforceability. A final public hearing and vote are set for April 13.

🖱️ Click of the Week: See What Everyone’s Reading

Richardson cautiously considers stricter short-term rental regulations

The city of Richardson could soon vote on stricter regulations on short-term rentals after receiving push back from residents.

KERAPriscilla Rice

Richardson cautiously considers stricter short-term rental regulations

Richardson officials are considering stricter short-term rental regulations, including clearer ownership definitions, permit revocation rules, and updated compliance requirements, following resident complaints about noise, traffic, and neighborhood impacts.

Social Listening📱: Twitter

STRisker’s Twitter Signal pulls real-time posts from officials, agencies, advocacy groups, and local influencers—so you see emerging sentiment and policy signals the moment they surface. Track conversations by place, people, and topics, then zero in on what actually matters.

Create Your Watchlist - 14 Day Free Trial

👍 We’d love your feedback.
Which stories hit? Which ones missed?

We're constantly refining Weekly Briefing to make it even more useful for you.

✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!

-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading Weekly Briefing? Feel free to forward this along. It is the easiest way to stay ahead of regulation changes in short-term and vacation rentals.