Weekly Regulatory Briefing (2)
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
- 🚓 New Orleans, LA: Federal and local authorities are investigating an Airbnb property in New Orleans' Marigny neighborhood, linked to the suspect behind the Bourbon Street terror attack on New Year's Day that left 15 dead and over 30 injured. The property became the center of attention after a fire led to the discovery of bomb-making materials, prompting evacuations and a large law enforcement presence.
- 🏦 Lexington County, SC: Effective January 1, 2025, Lexington County, S.C., requires short-term rental owners to pay a $320 annual fee and comply with new permitting processes.
🌍 Regional Highlights
- 🍁 Kentucky: Airbnb’s lobbyist presented policy ideas to Kentucky lawmakers for 2025, including a ban on conditional use permits for short-term rentals and allowing renters to host with owner approval.
- 🏙️ New York: Starting March 25, New York will implement a Short-Term Rental Registry law requiring platforms like Airbnb to report data and collect sales taxes. Counties can use the information to create STR registries and address unreported taxes.
Genelaine Urbano
Read more on Daily Notes 01/07/2025...
📜 New Ordinances Approved
- 🚠 Cottonwood Heights, UT: The Cottonwood Heights City Council has approved higher fines for illegal short-term rentals, aiming to crack down on non-compliant properties.
- 🏧 West Tisbury, MA: West Tisbury has solidified its short-term rental regulations to curb commercial misuse and protect local housing. Owners must register their properties every two years for $400, adhere to a two-night minimum stay, and limit rentals to one property while residing there for at least 30 days annually.
- 💻 Ferrysburg, MI: Ferrysburg has adopted new monitoring software called Granicus to address short-term rental complaints like noise and minimum-stay violations. Rental permits for STR owners will now cost $215, up from $75, to fund the $9,000 software.
- 🌴 Palm Coast, FL: Palm Coast’s City Council unanimously approved new short-term rental rules on Jan. 7, capping occupancy at 10 (excluding toddlers under 3), and prohibiting RVs, boats, or trailers in front yards.
- 📒 Alpharetta, GA: Alpharetta passed its first short-term rental ordinance on Jan. 6, limiting rentals to 5% of homes per neighborhood and requiring annual licensing with strict noise, capacity, and conduct rules.
- 👨💻 Warwick, NY: Warwick Village has adopted new rules governing short-term rentals, adding provisions to its code despite concerns about potential effects on long-term housing.
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- 🚨 Birmingham, AL: A recent shootout at a short-term rental in Birmingham's College Hills neighborhood has intensified calls for regulation. The city council is reviewing proposed short-term rental rules, with the planning and zoning committee set to discuss them on Jan. 22.
- 📫 Marin County, CA: Marin County’s updated short-term rental policies now require existing operators to renew licenses by July 2025, with only 1,200 total rentals allowed.
- 🕴️ North Myrtle Beach, SC: The North Myrtle Beach City Council discussed a proposed ordinance requiring short-term rental owners to designate a "responsible local agent" to address resident and public safety concerns.
- 💼 West Stockbridge, MA: The West Stockbridge Planning Board is considering a new bylaw for short-term rentals, which would allow up to 40 rental days per year without a special permit, and up to 80 days with one.
- 📆 Geneva, NY: The Geneva City Council met on January 7 to discuss short-term rental regulations, including permitting processes and compliance enforcement.
- 🚪 Hudson, WI: Hudson's City Council is revisiting its short-term rental ordinance with the moratorium set to expire in June.
Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱
Communities are adjusting to the shifting short-term rental landscape by adopting new strategies to address growing concerns. The following actions demonstrate the evolving nature of STR policies and their influence on local areas.
What this means:
💻 Strengthened Compliance and Monitoring Measures: Cities are increasingly adopting stricter compliance frameworks for short-term rentals to address non-compliance and neighborhood disruptions. For instance, Ferrysburg, MI, introduced monitoring software to handle complaints and enforce rules, while Cottonwood Heights, UT, raised fines for illegal rentals. Such measures reflect a growing trend of leveraging technology and financial penalties to ensure adherence to regulations and improve community harmony.
🧳 Balancing Tourism with Housing Preservation: Many local governments are passing regulations aimed at curbing commercial misuse and protecting housing stock. West Tisbury, MA, enacted rules requiring owner occupancy for at least 30 days annually and limiting rentals to one property. Similarly, Warwick, NY, added provisions to its code to prevent short-term rentals from exacerbating housing shortages.
🌃 Cap-Based and Localized Restrictions: Regu+
d rentals to 5% of homes per neighborhood, while Marin County, CA, capped its total short-term rentals at 1,200. These targeted restrictions demonstrate a shift toward localized controls aimed at managing density and maintaining residential character.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- Chelan County, WA: Chelan County is holding a public hearing on January 14 to discuss proposed revisions to its short-term rental (STR) code, initially enacted in 2021. The hearing allows residents to share feedback on the Planning Commission's recommendations.
- Rochester, MA: Rochester is set to vote on January 27 on two zoning proposals that could reshape its short-term rental (STR) landscape.
- Waukegan, IL: Waukegan’s City Council is set to vote on a simplified ordinance for short-term rental (STR) regulation on January 21, following months of public feedback and revisions.
- Birmingham, AL: The city council is reviewing proposed short-term rental rules, with the planning and zoning committee set to discuss them on January 22.