Weekly Regulatory Briefing (4)
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
- 🚵 Mount Pleasant, SC: Mount Pleasant Town Council approved a $494,000 partial settlement on Jan. 14 in a lawsuit against short-term rental companies like Airbnb and VRBO for failing to remit accommodations taxes and business license fees.
- 🎥 Beverly Hills, CA: In a special meeting, the Beverly Hills City Council approved a temporary urgency ordinance suspending short-term rental restrictions for 90 days due to the housing crisis caused by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation on Daily Notes 01/22/2025...
🌍 Regional Highlights
- 🏙️ California: After the deadly fires in Los Angeles, California officials are warning against rent-gouging, with rents exceeding the 10% increase cap prohibited.
Genelaine Urbano
Continuation on Daily Notes 01/21/2025...
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- 📎 York, ME: A York committee is preparing a new short-term rental ordinance for a November 2025 referendum after a similar measure failed in May 2024.
- 🖨️ Los Angeles County, CA The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Jan. 21, 2025 on emergency measures to address housing challenges caused by recent fires, including temporary changes to short-term rental (STR) regulations.
- 🚗 South Haven, MI: South Haven city officials are revising their short-term rental ordinance, focusing on caps, occupancy, parking, and neighborhood preservation.
- 📒 Ithaca, NY: Ithaca has opened applications for short-term rental permits following new regulations effective June 1, 2025.
- 📊 Nevada County, CA: Nevada County’s Assessor Office reminds short-term rental owners that personal property used for rental income, such as furniture, bedding, and appliances, is taxable under state law.
- 📖 Fall River, MA: Fall River is moving toward legalizing short-term rentals with the City Council unanimously approving the first reading of an ordinance allowing rentals of primary residences under strict conditions.
- 🌊 Ocean City, MD: Ocean City’s City Council rejected a recommendation from the Planning Commission that proposed a 31-day minimum rental period in R-1 and MH zones, citing strong objections from property owners.
- 🗺️ Milton, DE: Town Council has tasked the planning and zoning commission with drafting recommendations and ordinance language for short-term rentals starting Jan. 21.
- 🐚 Atlantic Beach, SC: Atlantic Beach’s planning commission approved a recommendation to amend the short-term rental ordinance, making the use permitted in residential districts and other areas.
- 💹 Sedona, AZ: Sedona’s City Council discussed stricter short-term rental (STR) enforcement on Dec. 12, including new rules requiring one permit per unit and $500 fines for violations.
- 📉 Paonia, CO: Paonia residents halted the implementation of a short-term rental ordinance through a petition, forcing a special election on April 1.
- 🚔 Geneva, NY: Geneva's revised short-term rental regulations approved in June are now fully in effect requiring property owners to register online, pay a $250 fee for a two-year permit, and pass inspections aimed at reducing neighborhood disruptions.
- 🧗♂️ Chelan County, WA: Chelan County’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) gathered public input on Jan. 14 regarding proposed changes to the short-term rental (STR) code, following recommendations from the Planning Commission.
- 🏗️ Exeter, NH: Exeter plans to vote on a zoning amendment to allow short-term rentals in two commercial districts while banning them in residential areas.
- 🏕️ Brown County, WI: Brown County’s campgrounds are seeing a surge in RV and camper rentals ahead of the NFL draft in April with nightly rates reaching up to $875. These rentals exempt from traditional short-term rental rules, must meet state health standards.
Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱
The short-term rental (STR) landscape continues to shift, prompting communities to adopt measures to address new challenges. Legal disputes, emergencies, and neighborhood-focused policies illustrate how STR regulations continue to adapt and influence local areas.
What this means:
📊 Litigation and Enforcement of Tax Compliance: Municipalities are increasingly turning to legal action to ensure short-term rental platforms comply with tax and licensing requirements. Mount Pleasant, SC, secured a $494,000 settlement from companies like Airbnb for failing to remit accommodations taxes and business license fees, signaling a growing trend of municipalities holding platforms accountable for their fiscal obligations.
🧯 Emergency Housing and Temporary Policy Adjustments: Disasters such as wildfires are prompting temporary changes to short-term rental regulations to address immediate housing crises. Beverly Hills, CA, enacted a 90-day suspension of rental restrictions, while Los Angeles County implemented emergency measures to expand rental options and stabilize housing during wildfire recovery efforts, emphasizing the role of STRs in crisis response.
📒 Community-Driven Regulatory Overhauls: Communities nationwide are reevaluating their short-term rental ordinances, with an emphasis on balancing neighborhood preservation and economic activity. Cities like South Haven, MI, and York, ME, are revising or drafting new regulations focusing on occupancy caps, parking, and zoning, while towns like Paonia, CO, are witnessing active public pushback, leading to referendums and special elections.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- Niskayuna, NY: The Niskayuna Town Board will vote on Jan. 28 to finalize short-term rental rules after a year of community complaints about disruptive rentals.