Weekly Regulatory Briefing (22) 06/05/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• COLUMBIA, SC; A new online registration and renewal platform for short-term rentals launched in Columbia on May 29, with new applicant registration opening June 1 at 1pm and renewal deadlines set for June 30. 

🌍 Regional Highlights

• MICHIGAN: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has proposed a statewide system to track and tax short-term rentals with its revenue directed to local services and tourism.
• KANSAS: Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® (KCRAR) released a regional STR study on May 30 that was conducted by RRC Associates across six counties and ten municipalities in Missouri and Kansas.
• HAWAII: As part of the state's Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) enforcement framework, Hawaii's Department of Taxation is pursuing property owners who fail to display tax registration numbers on Airbnb and other STR platforms.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• BLUE RIVER, CO: Blue River unanimously approved an emergency moratorium on new and lapsed short term rental licenses through December 31, citing widespread compliance issues with regulations adopted at the start of 2026 and a lack of staff resources to enforce them.
• HAZEL PARK, MI: Hazel Park enacted an immediate 6-month moratorium on new short-term rental licenses on May 31, 2026 following a fatal shooting at an STR property on May 29.
• CLEVELAND, OH: Cleveland City Council overwhelmingly approved a new short term rental ordinance Monday that caps STRs at 10% of homes per city block or multi-unit building, requires operators to pay the city hotel tax and a $150 annual fee and sets fines of up to $5,000 for violations.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• OREM, UT: Orem City Council voted during a May 26 work session to eliminate a full STR prohibition from consideration, narrowing its regulatory path to two options: permitting owner-occupied STRs only or permitting non-owner-occupied STRs with strict regulations including density limits and numerical caps.
• YOLO COUNTY, CA: Yolo County supervisors are considering raising the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) in unincorporated areas from 8% to 12%, a rate consistent with neighboring jurisdictions including Davis, Winters, and unincorporated Sacramento.
• SOUTHWEST HARBOR, ME: Southwest Harbor's Sustainability Committee isn't recommending STR regulation yet but plans two community conversations in June to gather public input. 
• WEST COLUMBIA, SC: West Columbia City Council is scheduled to take up the first reading of a proposed STR ordinance at its Tuesday meeting following years of resident complaints about noise and traffic.
• CHINCOTEAGUE, VA: After a public hearing on June 1 drew strong community response, Chincoteague council leaders voted to table any ban on new short-term rentals until a study could be conducted to assess the need for such a measure.
• ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA: An administrative permit program for short-term rentals is now active in Rockingham County after the Board of Supervisors passed enabling legislation in December 2025.
• RIDGEFIELD, CT: Ridgefield's Planning and Zoning Commission advanced discussions on May 26 about revising the town's bed-and-breakfast regulations and establishing new rules for short-term rentals.
• FOLLY BEACH, SC: Short-term rental regulations on Folly Beach are under formal review after the city council convened a community input meeting in May 2026 to hear perspectives from residents, property owners, and investors.
• KEENE, NH: Keene introduced two proposed ordinances at a May 2026 City Council meeting that would explicitly allow short-term rentals in all residential zones without a special permit and address a gap in the existing land development code.
• PALM SPRINGS, CA: A new Tourism Infrastructure District levying a 1% fee on hotels and short-term vacation rentals was approved unanimously by the Palm Springs City Council on May 27, 2026 and projected to generate $4.1 million annually over a 30 to 40-year term.
• ANNAPOLIS, MD: Proposed increases to short-term rental licensing fees and violation fines in Annapolis moved forward at a June 1, 2026 City Council session with implementation targeted for July 2026.
• MONONA, WI: Short-term rental operators in Monona must apply for permits covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 by the June 21 deadline and pay a one-time fee of $750.
• MILLERSBURG, OH: At its May 27 regular session, Millersburg Village Council discussed the impact of short-term rentals on local housing availability with members concerned that STR growth is tightening the village's long-term housing supply.
• LAKEWOOD, OH: Lakewood City Council is developing short-term rental regulations following sustained community pressure over nuisance properties operating through platforms including Airbnb. 
• MAUI COUNTY, HI: Bill 88 was advanced by Maui County Council in a 6-1 vote on last week of May, offering a potential lifeline to roughly 4,500 grandfathered vacation rentals on the Minatoya List that were set for phase-out under Bill 9.
• PHILADELPHIA, PA: After facing resistance from Philadelphia's hotel sector, Mayor Cherelle Parker pulled back a proposed 2% hotel tax increase that will be reduced to 0.6% and instead pivoted to seeking a 6% tax hike on short-term rentals.
• KANSAS CITY, MO: Kansas City short term rental hosts who signed up hoping to capitalize on FIFA World Cup tourism are facing a disappointing reality less than two weeks before the tournament kicks off, with many first-time hosts reporting zero bookings despite significant preparation and price reductions.
• DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI: Dearborn Heights defended its citywide short term rental ban in federal court Monday, with city lawyers arguing that property management companies lack standing to challenge the ordinance and that the city's zoning authority gives it broad control over how residents use their properties.
• WIMBERLEY, TX: Wimberley's STR Committee has recommended removing non-owner-occupied short term rental permissions from smaller single-family residential zones while making STRs a permitted use by right in commercial zones for up to 30 units.
• TREMONT, ME; Tremont's Code Enforcement Officer raised concerns at the May 18 Select Board meeting that new state housing density requirements could inadvertently open the door to more short term rentals in town if preventive measures aren't put in place.

📲 Social Buzz

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• MADISON, AL: Madison will hold a public hearing on June 22 to address the future of short-term rentals within city limits. Short-term rentals are currently not permitted in the city, though many units already operate through platforms.

STRisker Calendar Tracker

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