Weekly Regulatory Briefing (18)
Each week, we bring together the biggest updates in short-term rental regulations from coast to coast. Whether it’s fresh local regulations, emerging trends, or major discussions, our briefing provides all you need to stay in the know.
Each week, we bring together the biggest updates in short-term rental regulations from coast to coast. Whether it’s fresh local regulations, emerging trends, or major discussions, our briefing provides all you need to stay in the know.
🏡 Top Stories This Week
- 📒 Summit County, CO: A Summit County homeowner has filed a class action lawsuit against the Upper Blue Sanitation District claiming the district is charging unfair and excessive fees to homeowners who short-term rent their properties.
- ✋ Southwick, MA: In Southwick, Massachusetts, the town’s recently adopted short-term rental bylaw is now facing repeal efforts led by a local resident who argues it does more harm than good.
🌍 Regional Highlights
- 🗽 New York: New York City has sued LuxUrban Hotels for refusing to honor a $1.2 million settlement tied to its former identity as CorpHousing Group, which ran illegal short-term rentals under the SoBeNY name.
- 📖 Utah: Utah municipalities are struggling to regulate short-term rentals (STRs) due to a state law known as the “Knotwell Rule,” which prohibits the use of website listings like Airbnb and Vrbo as evidence in enforcement actions.
- ⚖️ Louisiana: Louisiana lawmakers are advancing several bills aimed at tightening short-term rental rules amid mounting enforcement failures in New Orleans.
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- 🚗 Indian Rocks Beach, FL: The debate over short-term rentals in Indian Rocks Beach remains heated as residents continue to press for stronger enforcement of 2023 rules affecting platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.
- 🏠 Monterey, CA: The Monterey City Council is intensifying enforcement of its short-term rental ban to address the housing shortage caused by homeowners renting out properties for brief periods, thus reducing the availability of long-term rental housing.
- 🤽 Effingham, IL: The Effingham Water Authority (EWA) has announced upcoming changes to its short-term rental ordinance set to take effect on July 1.
- 📊 Austin, TX: Austin short-term rental operators are adjusting after the city imposed an 11% hotel occupancy tax (HOT) on Airbnb and Vrbo listings starting April 1, aiming to curb corporate ownership and boost city revenues.
- 🏨 Bastrop, TX: Bastrop has implemented its first short-term rental registration ordinance requiring all STRs within city limits to register annually, verify hotel occupancy tax (HOT) payments, and meet safety standards.
- 🎤 New Orleans, LA: New Orleans’ new short-term rental rules—capping permits at one per residential block and halting commercial permits—are under pressure during Jazz Fest, with enforcement results seen as inconsistent.
- 🚪 Ocean City, MD: Ocean City’s short-term rental ordinance for single-family and mobile home districts may be headed for a public vote after a petition seeking a referendum surpassed 1,300 signatures.
- 🏫 Waterbury, VT: Waterbury launched a new online rental registry this month requiring all residential rental properties—including short-term rentals—to be registered with the town by May 1.
- 👨 Milton, DE: Milton Town Council has asked its planning and zoning commission to revisit and expand its proposed short-term rental regulations after reviewing a draft report based largely on Lewes’ policies.
- 🛢️ Glen Ellyn, IL: Glen Ellyn has joined other DuPage County towns in tightening short-term rental rules, banning stays of 30 days or less after resident complaints about noise, trash, and overcrowded parking.
- 🦾 Alameda, CA: Alameda’s Planning Board held a workshop April 28 to review staff proposals for regulating short-term rentals (STRs) under 30 days.
- ☁️ South Windsor, CT: Connecticut is exploring potential short-term rental regulations with proposals for annual registration, inspections, and new taxes. Although many towns still have no rules on STRs, municipalities like South Windsor have limited bans in place.
Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱
Short-term rentals are rapidly evolving as cities and states respond to mounting pressure from residents, hosts, and housing advocates. From legal challenges and enforcement gaps to new registration systems and tax measures, the trends reveal a nationwide shift toward stronger, more coordinated oversight.
What this means:
⚖️ Mounting Legal Pushback and Lawsuits: Lawsuits are becoming a central battleground in the short-term rental debate, with property owners, municipalities, and regulatory bodies challenging each other in court. From Summit County’s class action over utility fees to New York City’s lawsuit against LuxUrban, and Missouri hosts halting local enforcement in St. Louis, these legal fights signal growing friction over how STRs are regulated and monetized.
📓 States and Cities Grapple with Enforcement Gaps: A major emerging theme is the widespread difficulty cities and states face in enforcing existing short-term rental regulations. From Utah’s Knotwell Rule, which restricts how evidence can be used, to New Orleans' enforcement struggles during Jazz Fest and Honolulu's failure to collect fines, gaps in enforcement are undermining the intent of many local rules.
📎 Shifting Toward Uniform Regulation and Registries: Jurisdictions across the U.S. are pivoting toward centralized systems, registration requirements, and occupancy taxes as tools to bring short-term rentals under control. Towns like Bastrop, Waterbury, and South Windsor are implementing annual registries and safety standards, while Austin's new 11% occupancy tax reflects a push to capture STR revenue.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- St. Louis, MO: St. Louis has paused its short-term rental ordinance after a lawsuit from a host claimed the law violates Missouri’s constitution. A judge has halted enforcement until at least May 5.
- Lee, MA: Lee residents will vote on 17 articles during the town's May 8 Town Meeting, with the election set for May 12.
- Newberg, OR: The Newberg Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Newberg Public Safety Building and via Zoom to discuss proposed amendments to the city's vacation rental home regulations.
- 🏘️ Leoni Township, MI: Leoni Township’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended rejecting a proposed ordinance to regulate short-term rentals, arguing existing nuisance laws already address issues like noise and trespassing. The Board of Trustees will decide at their May 13 meeting whether to follow the commission’s recommendation or send the proposal back for revisions.
- 🔖 Norton Shores, MI: Norton Shores is moving toward regulating short-term rentals with a draft ordinance reviewed by the city council on April 22. Revisions are expected before the ordinance returns for another work session on May 27.
🖱️ Click of the Week: See What Everyone’s Reading
Ryan Spencer
Summit County judge recuses himself from short-term rental regulation lawsuit, citing his marriage to Breckenridge mayor
Summit County Judge Reed Owens has recused himself from a lawsuit challenging the county's short-term rental regulations due to his marriage to Breckenridge Mayor Kelly Owens, who has been extensively involved in shaping such policies.
Stay Updated with STRisker
STRisker offers tools and features to keep you updated with the Short-Term Rental movement across the U.S.
STRisker Calendar Tracker
Staying ahead of STR regulations isn’t just about deadlines—it’s about knowing what’s coming. Our Calendar Tracker keeps you informed on upcoming meetings, key votes, and policy changes, so you never miss a critical update.
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