Weekly Regulatory Briefing (4) 01/23/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Roeland Park, KS: Roeland Park has become the first Johnson County city to temporarily loosen short-term rental rules ahead of World Cup 2026.
• Austin, TX: A Texas family displaced by a house fire says they were abruptly removed from an Airbnb after disclosing firearm possession.
• Carson City, NV: Carson City staff and Planning Commission members hosted two community outreach meetings to gather public input on whether and how short-term rentals should be regulated.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Arizona: Arizona Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh has pre-filed Senate Bill 1105, which would allow cities and counties to prohibit accessory dwelling units from being used as short-term or vacation rentals.
• Colorado: Colorado lawmakers have introduced HB 36, which would let local governments ask voters to approve vacancy taxes on homes left empty for much of the year to fund affordable housing.
• Washington: Washington lawmakers are again considering a statewide short-term rental tax, reviving Senate Bill 5576 after it stalled in 2025.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Buena Vista, CO: BV trustees unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new short-term rentals, framing it as a pause to review policy rather than a move toward a permanent ban.
• Kane County, IL: The Kane County Board approved new licensing and operating rules for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas following months of resident complaints about noise, parking, and safety.
• Sedgwick County, KS: Sedgwick County commissioners approved a new zoning code that allows short-term rentals in unincorporated areas of the county.
• Clackamas County, OR: Clackamas County is extending its short-term rental pilot program through June 30 while officials gather public input on whether formal regulations are needed.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Iowa City, IO: Iowa City is grappling with short-term rental oversight challenges as 74 single-family homes operate as Airbnb properties following the state's 2018 decision to eliminate residential STR regulations that previously required owner-occupancy.
• Dearborn, MI: Short-term rental owners in Dearborn file a federal lawsuit challenging zoning changes that ban short-term rentals in residential areas and single-family homes.
• Columbia, SC: Columbia’s Planning Commission recommends loosening short-term rental restrictions for owner-occupied homes, allowing residents to rent out rooms while living on-site in all residential areas.
• Chicago, IL: Chicago City Council is considering a new 1.5% hotel assessment that supporters say would raise about $40 million annually through a tourism improvement district covering large downtown hotels.
• Sandpoint, ID: Sandpoint City Council held public hearings Wednesday on proposed changes to its short-term rental code including removing the citywide 35-unit cap on non-owner-occupied STRs in residential zones.
• New York City, NY: CasaVoya has announced an exclusive partnership with Directo that makes it the only “preferred” vacation rental platform surfaced to Directo users searching for New York City stays on Airbnb and other OTAs.
• Carmel, IN: Carmel is seeking state approval under SB-242 to impose a new flat $5-per-night hotel tax to fund local tourism and development projects, including a planned hotel and conference center district.
• Arroyo Grande, CA: Arroyo Grande City Council is delaying any increase to its transient occupancy tax despite general support for raising the rate.
• Marathon, FL: Marathon officials are weighing a significant increase in vacation rental license fees as their primary tool to address rental-related costs under state law.
• Tybee Island, GA: Tybee Island’s sweeping restrictions on short-term rentals are under judicial review as the city heads into its busiest travel season.
• San Diego, CA: San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is advancing a revised ballot measure that would impose an $8,000 annual tax on whole-home short-term rentals and vacant second homes, with an added $4,000 surcharge for corporate-owned properties.
• Falmouth, MA: The town’s Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee voted to forward a revised draft STR bylaw to the Select Board after addressing inconsistencies flagged during earlier review.
• Clatsop County, OR: The Clatsop County Board handled administrative actions and continued multiple land-use hearings, including comprehensive plan updates, code amendments tied to state law changes, and a proposed recording fee increase.
• Dickinson, ND: The Planning and Zoning Commission discussed ZTA-002-2026, a proposed zoning text amendment that would permit and license short-term rentals in select residential and downtown commercial districts while establishing application, renewal, and revocation rules.
• Elmhurst, IL: Several short-term rental operators in Elmhurst have shut down since the city adopted new licensing and safety requirements last spring, according to city officials.
• Yucca Valley, CA: Yucca Valley staff presented a new short-term rental GIS map that allows residents to search properties by address or parcel number and view permit status and 24-hour contact information.
• Norton Shores, MI: The Norton Shores City Council unanimously voted to deny a proposed ordinance that would have established regulations for short-term rentals, which are currently unregulated in the city.
• Arvada, CO: Arvada City Council is considering revisions to its short-term rental rules after a 2025 house party shooting and findings that hundreds of STRs were operating without licenses.
• Lexington, SC: Lexington town officials are choosing not to regulate short-term rentals despite growing regional scrutiny of Airbnbs and Vrbo listings.

🐦 Tweet Highlights: Catch the latest discussions on X

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• San Diego, CA:  The Rules Committee will reconsider the proposal Jan. 28 ahead of a potential June 2026 ballot vote.

• Clatsop County, OR: All major items were continued to Jan. 28 for further review and potential final action.

• Stowe. VT: Stowe officials are continuing discussions on a potential cap on short-term rentals, with major resort operators urging exemption from any limits. The selectboard is weighing how to distinguish between resort lodging and residential short-term rentals ahead of a Feb. 11 public hearing.

• Buena Vista, CO: Town officials said the moratorium allows time for stakeholder input, data review, and policy refinement, with an initial work session tentatively scheduled for March 10.

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

Transient Occupancy Tax | Arroyo Grande, CA - Official Website

Find TOT applications and forms.

Homepage Arroyo Grande CaliforniaGovernment Websites by CivicPlus®

Arroyo Grande's Transient Occupancy Tax

The article outlines Arroyo Grande’s Transient Occupancy Tax rules, requiring hotels and short-term rental operators to collect a 10% tax on stays of 30 days or less, along with additional tourism marketing assessments. It also explains how the revenue is used, available exemptions, and the licensing, collection, and monthly reporting duties operators must follow.

Social Listening 🎧: Podcast

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