Weekly Regulatory Briefing (27) 07/10/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Hood River, OR: Out-of-state owners of Hood River vacation homes urged the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to revive their lawsuit against the city's short-term rental ordinance and argued that the rule discriminates against non-resident owners. The 2024 ordinance requires STR properties to be the owner's primary residence or leased long-term to a local tenant for 12 months or more.
• Traverse City, MI: Commissioners are weighing new STR caps across several zoning districts including a drop from 100% to zero in industrial zones to ease a growing housing shortage. Development districts would fall to 25% while the Hotel Resort district keeps its 100% cap.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• California: A new committee process will shape STR rules for unincorporated Lake County with monthly meetings starting mid-July until officials finish a full draft ordinance. Community Development Director Mireya Turner is leading the process through virtual and in-person sessions covering fees, permit limits, and enforcement.
• Manatee County, FL: Commissioners are considering stricter STR rules for areas that currently have no local regulations such as Cortez and west Bradenton. A West Manatee Fire Rescue map counts over 4,500 active rentals in the district, with some streets now made up entirely of short-term lodging.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Gwinnett, GA: Coverage this week highlighted Gwinnett's Short-Term Rental Ordinance as approved by commissioners and set to take effect April 14, 2027. It requires annual licenses for stays under 30 days, a designated local property manager, and inspections. It also follows a nine-month task force study and two public forums with input from more than 80 residents. Commissioners are also currently weighing limits on corporate ownership.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Pasco, WA: An STR ordinance is set for council approval and would take effect January 1, 2027. Operators would need a business license and STR permit plus a 24/7 local contact who responds to complaints within one hour with event use like weddings barred.
• Starkville, MS: Mayor Lynn Spruill says a proposed ordinance would extend the city's 2% hotel tax to Airbnb and VRBO stays following a 2025 state law allowing municipalities to tax third-party bookings. This proposal would require owners to pay a $15 annual license fee.
• Bella Vista, AR: The City Council will vote later this month on raising the STR permit ceiling from 600 to 687, a nearly 15% increase to match population growth. Opponents asked for a 200-foot buffer between rentals instead.
• Mobile, AL: At a June 30 work session, the City Council agreed its STR ordinance needs updating after denying a permit over trash enclosure setback violations. Councilman Cory Penn called for a full rewrite.
• Lexington, KY: A committee's review of STR enforcement on July 1 revealed 61 citations totaling $78,125 since the city began regulating unhosted rentals with $59,125 still unpaid. The city is pursuing liens including a $22,000 lien on one property.
• Park Township, MI: The township asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit over its STR ban, calling it an attempt to relitigate a ban that Ottawa County's Circuit Court upheld in November. Owners say officials permitted STRs for nearly 50 years before reversing course in 2022.
• Westlake, OH: The City Council scheduled a Committee of the Whole meeting on pop-up social events and STRs after Queens Court residents reported late-night parties, but no ordinance has been proposed yet.
• St. Louis, MO: An STR in the Shaw neighborhood drew more than 100 juveniles and young adults on July 4 with gunfire near Shenandoah Avenue. Police Chief Robert Tracy urged hosts to vet renters and noted litigation has stalled fee collection under the city's 2023 permit ordinance.
• Alameda, CA: The Planning Board will consider recommending an STR ordinance to City Council that will require annual permits and limiting rentals to primary residences or owner-occupied multi-unit properties. The proposal bars Ellis Act properties for five years and excludes ADUs.
• Bethlehem, PA: The City Council held a hearing on zoning amendments that redefine "hotel" to include stays under 30 days and restrict STRs to hotel-zoned areas. Planning director Cathy Fletcher said the change codifies existing enforcement practice.
• Middleburg, VA: The Town Council voted to appeal a court order requiring it to revisit a 2024 STR permit denial for Salamander Resort founder Sheila Johnson's home. The resort also sued over new tiered utility rates, seeking damages of at least $230,000 annually.
• Springfield, PA: Township supervisors approved advertising a proposed ordinance requiring a $500 annual licensing fee for Airbnb and bed-and-breakfast operations. Once adopted in August, supervisors could revoke licenses and hold owners responsible for guest behavior.
• Monrovia, CA: A new ordinance introduced July 7 clarifies how transient occupancy tax rules apply to hotels, STR operators, and booking platforms. Adoption of this ordinance requires a second council reading.
• Baytown, TX: Residents at a July 8 town hall cited noise, parking, safety risks, and declining property values, demanding an outright ban after learning proposed amendments would expand STRs into residential zones. Residents pointed to New Braunfels and Arlington as regulatory models while Councilman James Franco signaled readiness to pursue stronger zoning-based prohibitions.
• Lewisboro, NY: The Town Board will resume STR discussion on July 27 after drafting its own proposal but holding off pending public feedback. Roughly 40 emails have reached the board with a slight majority favoring regulation.
• Ottawa, OH: Ohio's ODNR reopened three historic homes on remote North Bass Island in Lake Erie for the 2026 season. Accessible only by boat, charter, or aircraft, the Lake House rents for $600 nightly.

📲 Social Buzz

Episode Title: Virginia Invests $100M in Housing Solutions
Episode: The Daily News Now | Richmond News

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/se/podcast/virginia-invests-%24100m-in-housing-solutions-richmond-news/id1835292669?i=1000776050900

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments

• Alameda, CA: The Planning Board considers recommending an STR ordinance to Council on July 13.

• Lake County, CA: The STR ordinance committee begins monthly meetings in mid-July 2026.
• Starkville, MS: A second public hearing on the hotel tax amendment is set for July 21.

• Bella Vista, AR: The Council votes later in July on raising the permit ceiling to 687.

• Lewisboro, NY: The Town Board resumes its STR discussion on July 27.

• Springfield, PA: Supervisors are expected to adopt the $500 licensing fee ordinance in August.
• New Philadelphia, OH: The "Keys to Safe Hosting" workshop runs at Kent State Tuscarawas on Aug. 13.

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

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Weekly Regulatory Briefing (24) 06/26/2026

This Week’s STR. Salt Lake City, UT launches first licensing program; Los Angeles, CA rejects Airbnb’s request to dismiss the case; Chicago, IL files lawsuit; Maui County, HI; Madison, AL approve regulations; Wimberley, TX extends moratorium; Alton, IL; Palm Springs, CA. READ MORE.

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This Week’s STRs. Santa Fe County, NM launches STR website; Birmingham, MI reignites debate over regulation; Virginia challenges Airbnb’s program; Pullman, WA approves rules; Minnetonka, MN adopts ordinance; Grand Haven, MI finalizes increase in penalties; Blairsville Borough, PA. READ MORE.

Strisker - Short-term rental and data center regulationsGenelaine Urbano

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