Weekly Regulatory Briefing (24)
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
- Columbia, SC: Following a fatal shooting at a short-term rental in Columbia’s Elmwood Park neighborhood, city officials are weighing a temporary moratorium on new STR permits as public pressure mounts over neighborhood safety.
🌍 Regional Highlights
- Montana: Montana’s sweeping property tax overhaul, signed into law by Gov. Gianforte in May, is set to significantly reduce tax bills for owner-occupied homes and long-term rentals, but sharply raise taxes on short-term rentals and second homes.
📜 New Ordinances Approved
- Hawaii County, HI: The Hawaiʻi County Council has approved Bill 47, requiring all short-term rental owners on the island to register their properties with the county in what leaders are calling a foundational step toward broader STR reform.
- Roswell, GA: Roswell, Georgia officially approved new regulations for short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO during its June 9 City Council meeting.
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- Nantucket, MA: A Massachusetts judge has ruled that Nantucket’s zoning code does not allow short-term rentals under 31 days in the island’s Residential Old Historic district unless the owner lives on-site and rents out rooms.
- Pinellas County, FL: Legal battles are intensifying in Pinellas County and Indian Rocks Beach as local governments move to enforce short-term rental regulations more aggressively.
- Hermosa Beach, CA: Hermosa Beach’s short-term rental ban is once again under legal fire, with a high-profile administrative hearing spotlighting questions of fairness and compliance with coastal law.
- Glen Ellyn Village, IL: A U.S. District Court in Illinois has temporarily blocked Glen Ellyn’s short-term rental ban, siding with a property owner who claimed the ordinance amounted to an unconstitutional regulatory taking
- Maui, HI: Maui’s controversial Bill 9, which would phase out short-term rentals in apartment-zoned areas, returns to the spotlight Monday as the Housing and Land Use Committee considers key amendments that could reshape its impact.
- Columbia, MO: Columbia’s short-term rental ordinance officially went into full enforcement on June 1, and already the city is navigating its first wave of implementation challenges.
- Orange County, CA: Orange County cities are reconsidering their short-term rental regulations after a Grand Jury report spotlighted ineffective enforcement, inconsistent tax collection, and inadequate preparation for a tourist surge tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
- Saratoga Springs, NY: Even with the excitement around the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, Saratoga Springs short-term rental operators reported underwhelming performance compared to previous years, pointing to slower bookings and the need to cut rates.
- Parkville, MO: In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the city of Parkville, Missouri is temporarily loosening its short-term rental regulations to accommodate an expected surge of visitors.
- Jamaica Beach, TX: The Jamaica Beach Short Term Rental Association has formed in response to the city’s recently updated STR ordinance, which imposes tighter occupancy limits based on revised bedroom and square footage definitions.
- Charleston County, SC: Charleston County is finalizing how to allocate nearly $9.5 million it received in a settlement with Airbnb over unpaid short-term rental fees, with leaders directing portions of the funds toward housing initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and disaster preparedness.
- Ocala, FL: Ocala officials are considering updates to the city’s zoning code that would refine how short-term rental residences and congregate living facilities are defined and regulated, in part to comply with Florida’s new Senate Bill 954 taking effect July 1.
- Yavapai County, AZ: As Yavapai County communities weigh tighter restrictions on short-term rentals, a new REALTOR-backed study is pushing back, highlighting the sector’s economic benefits and urging a focus on housing development instead of overregulation.
- Talbot County, MD: Talbot County officials are weighing stricter short-term rental regulations, including raising the minimum stay requirement from 3 to 7 nights adding new licensing categories, and requiring operators to submit detailed occupancy records.
🌱 Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends
Short-term rentals are facing a wave of new scrutiny as cities and counties across the U.S. respond to mounting concerns over safety, housing, and tourism impacts. Recent developments reveal several key trends shaping the next phase of STR regulation and reform.
🚓 Intensifying Local Crackdowns and Moratoriums in Response to Public Pressure: Cities and counties across the U.S. are ramping up enforcement or proposing temporary moratoriums on new short-term rental permits in response to growing safety, nuisance, and housing concerns. Columbia, SC, for example, is considering a pause on new permits following a fatal shooting, while legal battles in places like Glen Ellyn, IL, and Hermosa Beach, CA, underscore rising tensions between regulators and property owners.
🏠 Regulatory Shifts Targeting STR Economics and Housing Impact: Several jurisdictions are revising their tax and zoning frameworks to recalibrate the economic footprint of short-term rentals. Montana’s sweeping tax overhaul penalizes STRs and second homes with higher taxes, while Maui’s Bill 9 aims to phase them out from apartment zones. These moves reflect a broader trend of using financial levers and zoning tools to push STRs back into more traditional residential or hospitality categories.
🏫 Grassroots and Government Push for Registration, Oversight, and Reform: Communities are prioritizing registration and transparency as precursors to long-term regulatory reform. Hawaii County’s new registration law (Bill 47), Roswell’s updated rules, and Charleston County’s plan to reinvest STR settlement funds into housing and infrastructure point to a nationwide push to formalize oversight mechanisms. Meanwhile, local associations—like the one recently formed in Jamaica Beach, TX—highlight an organized response from STR operators aiming to shape evolving policies.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- South Lake Tahoe, CA: South Lake Tahoe is advancing a major overhaul to its Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance, with the City Council voting to hold a first reading and scheduling adoption for June 17.
- Maui County, HI: Maui County’s proposed Bill 9 which would phase out short-term rental exemptions for over 7,000 apartment-zoned units drew intense debate during a six-hour council hearing with over 150 residents speaking both for and against the measure. The council will resume hearings on June 18.
- Atlas Township, MI: Atlas Township is evaluating whether it needs new rules for short-term rentals, with a public comment session scheduled for June 18.
🖱️ Click of the Week: See What Everyone’s Reading
Eli Ramos
Are short-term rentals harming housing in the basin?
Despite decades of short-term rental activity in Lake Tahoe, public tension continues as locals weigh economic benefits against community disruption and reduced housing access. Recent studies and public sentiment reveal that while STRs play a role in housing pressure, broader trends like high vacancy rates and limited new development are also driving the region’s affordability crisis.
Stay Updated with STRisker
STRisker offers tools and features to keep you updated with the Short-Term Rental movement across the U.S.
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