Weekly Regulatory Briefing (48)
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
- 🏖️ Nantucket, MA: Short-term rental regulation will take center stage at Nantucket’s May 2025 Annual Town Meeting, with several citizen warrant articles proposing differing approaches to managing this contentious issue. Check out the complete Citizen Warrant Articles.
- 🌲 Park Township, MI: An Ottawa County judge recently ruled in favor of Park Township, dismissing a lawsuit from short-term rental owners seeking to overturn the township’s ban on vacation rentals in residential areas.
Genelaine Urbano
Read more about the report on Daily Notes 11/25/2024.
- ⛰️ Burlington, VT: Superior Court Judge Samuel Hoar ruled in favor of Burlington’s short-term rental regulations, affirming that the city has broad authority to impose such rules. The regulations in question include requirements that property owners must live on-site and impose fines for violations.
- 🌆 Houston, TX: Houston is set to introduce a new ordinance in the coming months that will tighten regulations on short-term rentals (STRs) across the city.
🌍 Regional Highlights
- 🏖️ Delaware: Delaware will introduce a 4.5% lodging tax on short-term rentals starting Jan. 1, 2025, impacting property owners and rental platforms like Airbnb. Under the law signed in September, all operators and accommodations intermediaries must obtain an annual $25 business license and display the license number on marketing materials.
Genelaine Urbano
Continue reading the report on Daily Notes 11/26/2024.
📜 New Ordinances Approved
- 🏡 West Chester, PA: West Chester Borough has approved new rules for short-term rentals, limiting the total numbers of short-term rentals to 20 and confining most to the Town Center District. Stays are limited to a maximum of 30 days.
- 🌴 New Braunfels, TX: During its Nov. 25 meeting, the New Braunfels City Council unanimously approved special use permits for two properties to operate as short-term rentals: 475 and 479 Barcelona Dr., and 381 Tolle St.
- Check out New Braunfels' Short-Term Rental Interactive Map.
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- 🏛️ Ithaca, NY: During its November 20 meeting, the Ithaca Common Council reviewed the progress on short-term rental regulations passed earlier this year. The rules aim to address the growing number of vacation rentals displacing long-term housing for residents.
- 🌴 Beverly Hills, CA: The Beverly Hills Planning Commission narrowly approved a recommendation on Nov. 14 for the City Council to adopt stricter short-term rental regulations.
Genelaine Urbano
Check out Daily Notes 11/25/2024 for the report.
- 🏖️ Gulf Breeze, FL: The City of Gulf Breeze held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance requiring short-term rental owners to register their properties, sparking mixed feedback from the community.
- 🏔️ Summit County, UT: Summit County is considering a fee hike for business licenses – including short-term rental licenses – to fund new software that would help track short-term rentals more effectively. Find out more at The Park Record
- 🏖️ Wellington, FL: Wellington has introduced a 24/7 hotline and updated regulations to address recurring issues with short-term rentals, including noise, trash, and parking complaints. The hotline allows residents to report disturbances by phone or online, upload evidence, and prompt property owners to take corrective action.
- 🏙️ Niskayuna, NY: Niskayuna’s Town Board is preparing to vote on comprehensive short-term rental regulations that will address resident complaints about disruptions caused by rental properties.
- 🏜️ Sedona, AZ: The Sedona Verde Valley Association of Realtors (SVVAR) is funding a study to analyze the economic impact of short-term rentals (STRs) in Yavapai County, particularly in Sedona and the Verde Valley.
- 🏞️ Coudersport, PA: On November 20, the Coudersport Borough Council has tasked solicitor Dan Glassmire with drafting a short-term rental ordinance for committee review, following months of debate on the issue.
Genelaine Urbano
Continue reading at Daily Notes 11/27/2024
- 🏙️ Fairfax, CA: The Town of Fairfax is amending its short-term rental ordinance to expand eligibility and simplify the registration process.
- 🌆 Monterey, TN: Monterey officials are considering new regulations for short-term rentals, drawing inspiration from Cookeville’s policies. Read more at Herald Citizen.
- 🏞️ Lake Geneva, WI: On Nov. 11, the Lake Geneva City Council decided to delay finalizing its revised short-term rental ordinance until Nov. 25, allowing time to address unresolved details and refine language.
- 🏖️ Manistee, MI: Manistee City Council continues to face community pressure over short-term rentals, with residents sharing strong opinions during the November 19 meeting. Read the report at Huron Daily Tribune.
Genelaine Urbano
Continue reading on Daily Notes 11/28/2024.
- 🌾 Dexter Township, MI: Dexter Township is taking significant steps to address short-term rental (STR) concerns by forming a study committee to explore legal and regulatory options. These include potential amendments to its zoning ordinance, which currently prohibits STRs except for bed-and-breakfasts.
Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱
As the short-term rental (STR) landscape continues to evolve, communities are shaping regulations to address growing challenges while balancing economic opportunities and resident concerns.
What This Means:
🗺️ Strengthened Legal and Zoning Controls: Cities like Burlington, VT, and Park Township, MI, are leveraging legal rulings to enforce stricter zoning rules, live-in requirements, and even bans in certain areas. This trend reflects a push to preserve residential stability by defining clear boundaries for STR operations.
📊 Taxation and Fee Equity: Local governments are introducing new taxes and raising fees to ensure STR platforms and operators contribute fairly to local economies. Delaware's 4.5% lodging tax and Ocean City, NJ’s proposed occupancy tax illustrate how jurisdictions are aligning STR revenues with broader community needs.
💻 Technology-Driven Accountability: Innovative tools like Wellington, FL’s 24/7 complaint hotline and Summit County, UT’s proposed software upgrades for rental tracking highlight how technology is empowering residents and municipalities to monitor and manage STR impacts more effectively.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- Dougherty County, GA: Dougherty County is considering a new ordinance to regulate short-term rental properties, which would require property owners to undergo home inspections to meet county standards and ensure safe, reliable accommodations for out-of-town renters. The proposal is set to be voted on December 2.
- Jamestown, RI: The town council will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 2, to review short-term rental applications for 41 Top O The Mark Drive, 46 Steamboat St., and 76 Frigate St., with a public hearing available for any residents wishing to voice concerns.
If no objections are made, the applications may be approved without further discussion per the ordinance. A separate hearing for the contested 36 Cole St. application is scheduled for December 16, where 2 Westwood Road will also be reviewed.
```- Glens Falls, NY: The finalized draft rules for short-term rentals in Glens Falls will head to the Common Council on Nov. 26, with a public hearing scheduled for December 10. The draft includes zoning restrictions, distinctions between hosted and non-hosted rentals, and a five-year sunset period for non-hosted rentals in R1 and R2 residential zones, allowing landlords time to comply with the new rules.
- Ocean City, NJ: Ocean City’s City Council has introduced a proposed 3% occupancy tax on hotel, motel, and short-term rental stays, including those booked via platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. The measure, passed 4-3, will face a final vote on December 5, potentially taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025.