Weekly Regulatory Briefing (28) 07/17/2026

🏡 Top Stories This Week

• Reynoldsburg, OH: A unanimous City Council vote adopted short-term rental restrictions on July 13 after resident complaints about parties and gunfire, requiring a $225 annual permit, primary-residence status, a three-night minimum, and occupancy capped at two guests per bedroom.
• Linn/Sister Bay, WI: The Wisconsin Court of Appeals struck down Sister Bay's four-bedroom cap on short-term rentals on July 1 and ruled it preempted by the state's Right to Rent law. The statewide decision bars municipalities from limiting how many bedrooms guests may use.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Clark County, NV: The Nevada Supreme Court upheld a ruling on July 10 barring the county from denying STR applications solely because a property uses a septic system. It's the final ruling so the requirement won't be reinstated.
• Puerto Rico: Senator Brenda Pérez-Soto filed Senate Bill 1381 which would require every STR with a pool to install a safety fence. Violations could draw fines up to $5,000 plus registration revocation.
• Mohave County, AZ: Assessor Jeanne Kentch announced on July 11 that her office will reclassify full-time STRs from residential to commercial, raising the assessment ratio from 10% to 15%, after state lawmakers declined to act.
• Traverse City, MI: City Manager Ben Marentette announced a coalition of destination communities lobbying Lansing for a lodging surcharge worth up to $7 million a year that would reach STRs. The effort hinges on stalled House Bills 5138 to 5140.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Pasco, WA: A unanimous council vote approved Ordinance No. 4847 and will be the the city's first STR framework, effective January 1, 2027. It requires a business license, a separate STR permit, a 24/7 local contact, and bars weddings and concerts at rentals.
• Baytown, TX: After tabling the measure earlier, council approved STR regulations on July 9. Permits cost $350 annually, require a Fire Marshal inspection at renewal, a 24/7 contact within 50 miles, and collection of the city's 7% hotel-motel tax.
• Fair Haven, NY: A new STR law took effect July 14 limiting each owner to three permits and will replace an earlier proposed cap and lottery. Six applications have been filed so far.
• Chatham County, GA: Commissioners approved a 120-day moratorium on new STR applications which halted intake until November 7 while the county rewrites its 2021 ordinance.
• Madison, AL: The council approved a $8,000 one-year contract with Deckard Technologies on July 13 to deploy Rentalscape monitoring software that will check listings against a new ordinance that caps permits at 190.
• Jefferson County, NY: The county launched its occupancy tax registry on July 10 and required STR owners to register and collect a bed tax. Officials budgeted $100,000 in bed tax income for the next six months.
• Ventura, CA: Permit fees climbed to $1,526 from $204 on July 1 under the updated ordinance, with renewals closing August 31. Unpermitted rentals face escalating civil penalties up to $5,000.
• Scottsdale, AZ: Under Ordinance 4719, a rental now counts as an event center when a gathering is ticketed or advertised on social media which will give police authority to act even after a party quiets down.
• Mount Lemmon, AZ: The Stage 3 water restrictions that took effect July 8 capped every property at 2,400 gallons per month. Owners now black out bookings and cancel reservations to stay under the limit during peak season.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Washington, DC: Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a two-bill housing package on July 10 that includes the Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act and confirmed guests hold no legal right to stay after a booking ends and authorizing police to remove those who refuse to leave.
• Winnetka, IL: Trustees are advancing an ordinance to ban STRs of fewer than 60 days and will limit residential turnover to two unique tenants per year after staff found an active Airbnb listing in the village.
• Maui County, HI: A council committee advanced two resolutions on July 6 to rezone roughly 4,500 grandfathered Minatoya List units as hotels which will be protected from the STR phase-out under Bill 9.
• Eureka, CA: The council voted 3-2 to place a transient occupancy tax increase on the November 3 ballot and lift the TOT from 10% to 12% for stays of 30 days or less. The rise could generate $700,000 a year.
• Charleston, SC: Planning officials deferred proposed ordinance changes on July 15 and delayed the first major overhaul since 2018. The revision would let the Fire Marshal set occupancy by bedroom size while capping every rental at eight guests.
• Lakewood, OH: Debate resumed July 13, reviving Ordinance 23-2025 after nearly a year of inactivity. The draft permits rentals as a conditional use if owners secure an annual permit and pass inspection.
• South Bend, IN: Mayor James Mueller's administration wants the Common Council to begin regulating STRs and has cited listing growth and neighbor complaints. A July 13 public meeting opened discussion ahead of a formal ordinance.
• Circleville, OH: Legislation moving through the Judiciary Committee July 13 would reallocate the transient lodging tax and tighten collection from STRs, doubling the visitors bureau's share to roughly $200,000 beginning in 2027.
• Plainfield, NJ: The City Council tabled its revised ordinance at second reading amid host resistance. The softened version would cap rentals at 15 bookings a year and bar non-owner-occupied properties, but no revised vote is scheduled.
• Nahunta, GA: A new zoning ordinance would ban STRs inside travel trailer parks and set a 30-day minimum stay. First reading was July 6 with a second reading set for August 3.
• Spring Lake, MI: A proposed zoning change reviewed July 13 would ease parking requirements for smaller units and let one-space condos operate as STRs for up to four guests.
• Newport Beach, CA: After a July 14 study session addressing Fourth of July mayhem, the City Manager recommended reevaluating STR rules as council members pushed for tighter controls and cameras. More than 400 people were detained on the Balboa Peninsula over the holiday.
• Keene, NH: A proposed ordinance would define STRs and permit them by right in all residential zones for stays under 30 days. Councillors flagged housing concerns and tabled it July 13.
• Moore County, TN: The dispute at The Retreat at Sunset Bluff intensified as more than 40 lot owners filed a counter-lawsuit against developer Chip Hayes. The owners are seeking up to $5 million for alleged fraud and HOA mismanagement.
• Hamilton, OH: Neighbors are demanding closure of an Anderson Township rental after 15 to 20 shots were fired during a June 27 party. Township officials launched a civil investigation and are reconsidering 2024 zoning rules.
• Long Beach, MS: An STR committee delivered policy recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen on July 14. Mayor Tim Pierce said a cap is not an immediate priority.
• Burke, VT: Officials revisited the town's STR rules at a July 8 Development Review Board meeting. With about 30 of an estimated 90 units registered, the town will begin contacting unregistered operators directly next year.
• Bradenton, FL: Residents in Northwest Bradenton want tougher code enforcement on high-occupancy rentals. The fire district counts more than 5,300 STRs and Manatee County is weighing a new ordinance.
• Cincinnati, OH: The city's STR ordinance faces fresh scrutiny after a July 15 shooting at a Corryville property, the third at a Greater Cincinnati rental in months. Ohio lawmakers could remove local control of STRs.
• Streator, IL: STR regulation reached the City Council agenda July 15, the city's first formal step toward a framework. Licensing terms and caps haven't been detailed publicly.
• La Mesa, CA: The council directed staff on July 14 to spend six months studying STRs and draft a policy. The city currently requires no permits for its roughly 637 active STRs with proposed standards due by early 2027.
• Strasburg Township, PA: Supervisors voted 3-0 to advance a draft zoning amendment confining new STRs to the Gateway North commercial zone. A hearing and final vote could follow August 3.
• Buena Vista, CO: Trustees heard recommendations from the town's STR Committee at their July 14 meeting. A moratorium on new licenses runs until September 2026 while the board rewrites the code.

📱 Social Buzz

🎤 Episode Title: The Hidden Cost of Rising Home Prices
🎤 Episode: Texas Tomorrow
🎧 Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c97d38c3

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments

• Circleville, OH: Council takes up the lodging tax ordinance on July 21.

• Hastings, NE: A Development Services zoning meeting on STR categories is set for July 23.

• Nahunta, GA: Ordinance No. 26-07-002 gets its second reading August 3.
• Strasburg Township, PA: August 3 could bring a hearing and final vote on the zoning amendment.
• Conyers, GA: Residents gather at City Hall for a public discussion on August 4.
• Eureka, CA: The TOT increase heads to voters November 3.
• Chatham County, GA: The moratorium on new applications holds until November 7.
• La Mesa, CA: Staff are due back with proposed standards in early 2027.

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

Starkville eyes hotel tax for short-term rentals

Aldermen are set to consider making short-term rentals in the city subject to the 2% hotel tax.

The DispatchEmma McRae

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