Weekly Regulatory Briefing (46)
The Week’s STR Highlights. Laketown Township, MI extends moratorium; Dallas, TX hosts free workshop; New York discusses enforcement; Calistoga, CA adopts ordinance; Yates County, CA passes Local Law #5; Kingston, NY reopens registration; Hendersonville, TN; Park Township, MI. READ MORE.
🏡Top Stories This Week
- Laketown Township, MI: Laketown Township has extended its moratorium on new short-term rental licenses until June 30, 2026, allowing more time to finalize local rules and enforcement plans.
- Dallas, TX: As North Texas gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Dallas Short-Term Rental Alliance (DSTRA) is hosting free workshops this week to help homeowners prepare to host visitors.
🌍 Regional Highlights
- New York: The Finger Lakes region is grappling with how to manage a surge in short-term rentals that’s transforming once-quiet lake towns.
📜 New Ordinances Approved
- Calistoga, CA: The Calistoga City Council has unanimously adopted a new ordinance that strengthens enforcement of its long-standing ban on short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days.
- Yates County, NY: The Yates County Legislature has passed Local Law #5, opting out of creating a county-level registration system for short-term rentals.
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- Kingston, NY: Kingston is reopening its short-term rental registration for one day only on December 3, offering four new permits after existing operators declined renewals.
- Hendersonville, TN: Hendersonville’s short-term rental restrictions are facing renewed legal pressure as property owners claim the city’s ordinance is unclear and unconstitutional.
- Park Township, MI: Park Township will resume enforcing its short-term rental ban after a judge upheld the township’s 1974 zoning ordinance, which excludes rentals in residential areas.
- Philipstown, NY: Philipstown is preparing to adopt a new short-term rental law that would require one-year permits for Airbnb and Vrbo hosts, marking the town’s first major step toward regulating the growing industry.
- Salida, CO: The Salida City Council voted to lift its residency requirement for short-term rental ownership—but only in the city’s historic downtown—after a tense debate and last-minute legal review.
- Livingston, MT: Livingston is moving to formally regulate short-term rentals, requiring all operators to obtain permits and pass safety inspections, with extra requirements for non-owner-occupied properties.
- Port Clinton, OH: More than 200 residents and officials from across northern Ohio gathered in Oak Harbor to protest Senate Bill 104, a proposal that would remove local control over short-term rental regulations.
- Southampton, NY: Southampton officials plan to temporarily relax the town’s strict short-term rental rules during next year’s U.S. Open Golf Championship at Shinnecock Hills.
- Hawaii County, HI: Hawaii County’s proposal to delay its new short-term vacation rental law until July 2026 has advanced to the full County Council after unanimous committee approval.
- Mesquite, TX: Mesquite’s City Council meeting turned heated over proposed restrictions on vacation home rentals as the city works to align its code with Nevada’s state law AB363.
- New Orleans, LA: A long-awaited study in New Orleans is recommending major changes to the city’s short-term rental laws, including a ban on new commercial STRs in some neighborhoods and a one-per-block limit elsewhere.
- Kansas City, MO: Kansas City is preparing to lower short-term rental permit fees for up to 90 days ahead of the 2026 World Cup, aiming to help local hosts accommodate an expected 650,000 visitors.
- Boston, MA: A new study by Boston University’s Initiative on Cities and the School of Hospitality Administration finds that Boston’s short-term rental regulations have sharply reduced listings but left major compliance issues unresolved.
- Calistoga, CA: Calistoga is tightening its 2008 short-term rental ban with new penalties and enforcement measures aimed at preserving housing and supporting its hotel-driven tourism economy.
- Plainfield, NJ: Plainfield’s proposed short-term rental ordinance returns for final approval after passing 6–1 on first reading.
- Duluth, MN: City councilors discussed a proposed short-term rental moratorium during their recent meeting, introducing Resolution 808 and Ordinance 28 to temporarily halt certain permit approvals.
- Evanston, IL: Evanston’s Housing and Community Development Committee reviewed a draft ordinance on November 6 that would set new rules for short-term and vacation rentals, including a possible cap of 25 licenses per ward.
- Akron, OH: Akron residents and city officials renewed calls for stronger oversight of short-term rentals during a recent council meeting.
- Hague, NY: The Town of Hague’s short-term rental law has been struck down by a New York State Supreme Court judge after nine months in effect.
- Green Bay, WI: Green Bay officials are considering new limits on short-term rentals after a surge in listings across the city.
- Waynesville, NC: Waynesville is nearing a decision on its long-debated short-term rental policy, which now proposes only minor restrictions after seeing a decline in local vacation rentals.
- Madison, IN: Madison’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved a new short-term rental permit and renewed several others during its Nov. 10 meeting.
🌱 Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends
Local governments are ramping up enforcement, revisiting old regulations, and preparing for major tourism events—all signaling another pivotal week for short-term rental policy.
📓 Moratoriums Spread as Towns Reassess STR Growth: More communities are hitting pause on short-term rentals, with Laketown Township extending its moratorium through mid-2026 and Annapolis preparing a yearlong freeze on new licenses. These moves signal a widening shift toward slowing expansion while local officials evaluate zoning, enforcement, and housing impacts.
👓 Tourist Hotspots Loosen Rules Ahead of Major Events: Cities expecting major visitor surges are temporarily recalibrating their short-term rental policies, from Dallas hosting World Cup–focused workshops to Kansas City lowering permit fees and Southampton easing rules for next year’s U.S. Open. Local leaders say the adjustments aim to boost hosting capacity without reshaping long-term regulations.
🖊️ Legal Battles and Enforcement Upgrades Reshape STR Oversight: Across the country, communities are tightening oversight through revived registration windows, stricter inspection requirements, and new permit systems, with Kingston, Philipstown, and Livingston making notable moves. At the same time, lawsuits and court rulings from zoning affirmations to challenges over ordinance clarity are redefining how far local governments can go in policing the STR market.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- New York: Airbnb is lobbying New York City lawmakers to ease its strict 2023 short-term rental law before Mayor Eric Adams leaves office in December. The proposal remains divisive as a Nov. 20 hearing approaches.
- Annapolis, MD: Incoming Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann plans to introduce a 12-month moratorium on new short-term rental licenses during his first City Council meeting on December 8.
- New Orleans, LA: The full proposal will be presented to the City Planning Commission on December 9.
🖱️ Click of the Week: See What Everyone’s Reading
Delcenia Cosman
Council to hold 2nd comprehensive plan public hearing
Homer city officials are continuing public hearings and review of the draft 2045 Comprehensive Plan as residents push for stronger policies on housing, short-term rentals, environmental protection, and open-space preservation.
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