Weekly Regulatory Briefing (16) 04/17/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Maryland: Short term rental hosts in Maryland will need to meet new safety standards starting October 1 after Gov. Wes Moore signed the Short Term Rental Safety Act on Tuesday as part of a package of 173 bills.
• New Orleans, LA: The Vieux Carré Property Owners and Residents Association launched a billboard campaign this week along Interstate 10 and US 90, urging the New Orleans City Council to vote against a proposal that would expand short term rental permissions in the French Quarter.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Kentucky: A last-minute addition to Kentucky's Senate Bill 9 has turned a relatively straightforward housing infrastructure bill into a flashpoint over short-term rental regulation, with the House inserting language that would strip local governments of their ability to regulate STRs beyond maintaining a basic rental registry.
• District of Columbia: A growing number of short-term rentals marketed as adult-themed "experience" properties are operating in suburban neighborhoods across the country, prompting complaints from residents about noise, heavy foot traffic, and the nature of the activity next door.
• South Carolina: South Carolina's House Bill 3876 is moving through the State House with the goal of requiring short term rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to consistently collect taxes and provide clear financial records to property owners upon request.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Wayzata, MN: Wayzata's City Council voted 4-1 on April 7 to approve a 12-month emergency moratorium on short-term rentals after the city's original STR ban was challenged by operators and declared void by a district court on March 30.
• Parkville, MO: Parkville has temporarily lifted its short term rental cap ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, approving seven new STR applications since relaxing its restrictions.
• Columbia Falls, MT: Columbia Falls has approved a new framework to strengthen short-term rental enforcement, opting against an owner-occupancy requirement but introducing stricter compliance measures.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Birmingham, MI: A shooting at a short-term rental property in Birmingham is intensifying concerns about STR activity in residential neighborhoods.
• Covington, GA: Covington's City Council did a reversal on April 6, unanimously voting to move forward with a text amendment to the city's short-term rental ordinance after initially rejecting the idea in March.
• Palmyra, NY: Palmyra police responded to an out-of-control gathering at a short-term rental on East Charlotte Avenue on April 9, where a home rented for roughly 15 guests had nearly doubled in occupancy, leading to a tense standoff when several attendees refused to leave and threatened to damage the property.
• Benton Harbor, MI: Benton Harbor has put a pause on all new short-term rental applications after the city's planning commission found that existing ordinances and the 2023 master plan don't provide enough clear language to properly regulate STRs.
• Viroqua, WI: Viroqua is working toward a new short-term rental ordinance as part of its comprehensive plan rewrite, with the Housing Advisory Board tentatively agreeing on a citywide cap of 60 STR permits and a limit of 210 rental days per year for stays under seven days.
• Forest Park, IL: Forest Park residents packed a Village Board of Trustees meeting Monday night demanding a ban on short-term rentals, citing a troubled Airbnb on Lathrop Avenue that neighbors describe as a persistent nuisance.
• Valdosta, GA: Valdosta is inviting residents, property owners, and community stakeholders to weigh in on potential short-term rental policies through a series of public workshops at City Hall Annex, as the city begins exploring how STRs impact neighborhoods and housing.
• Washington County, PA: Washington County is preparing to roll out tracking software to identify unregistered short-term rentals and ensure hosts are paying the required 6% hotel tax.
• Cornelia, GA: The Cornelia City Commission opened the floor to public input Tuesday on whether to allow short term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO within city limits.
• Nevada City, CA: Nevada City is working toward putting an updated short term rental ordinance before voters in the November 2026 General Election, alongside a companion measure to repeal the existing voter adopted ordinance that the city council cannot change on its own.
• Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara's ordinance committee took up a proposal Tuesday that would largely prohibit whole home short term rentals in coastal neighborhoods like the Mesa while allowing home share rentals where the property owner remains on site.
• Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville's Gateway Jax Pearl Square development received a construction permit April 14 for Block N8, a mixed use project that will include 143 short term rental units alongside 394 traditional apartments, retail, restaurant space and a gym.
• Columbia Township, MI: Columbia Township is taking another run at a short term rental ordinance after residents near lake properties on roads like Maple Lane reported ongoing issues with speeding, increased traffic, noise and road damage caused by rental guests.
• Boston, MA: Airbnb booking data shows Dorchester as the fastest growing neighborhood in the Boston area for FIFA World Cup 2026 stays, with reservations for the June 11 through July 19 tournament window jumping 122% year over year.
• Odessa, TX: Odessa is moving toward a November voter referendum on a 2% venue tax targeting hotel and short term rental guests, with proceeds projected at roughly $2 million per year to help fund a new sports complex and shore up the city's parks budget.
• Jersey County, IL: Jersey County officials are considering updates to their Hotel and Motel Tax Ordinance to include short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, aligning with a new Illinois law that took effect in 2026.
• Newark, DE: Newark officials are moving to formalize a strict ban on short-term rentals, aiming to close gaps in enforcement as listings continue to appear on platforms like Airbnb despite existing restrictions.

📲 Social Buzz

🎤 Episode Title: Out-of-State Investing Sounds Good… Until This Happens
🎤 Episode: Blue Sofa

📻 Listen:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2098274/episodes/19029901-out-of-state-investing-sounds-good-until-this-happens.mp3

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• Hoboken, NJ: Hoboken officials are set to introduce new regulations on short-term rentals, driven by World Cup-related demand and growing concerns about housing availability.

• Benton Harbor, MI

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

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Machiasport Planning Board drafting short‑term rental ordinance as officials weigh town’s future as a ‘vacationland’

Machiasport officials are exploring a short-term rental ordinance focused on safety, registration, and minimizing neighborhood impacts. The discussion comes amid rising housing costs, though the town’s small number of rentals currently poses limited risk to overall housing availability.

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