Weekly Regulatory Briefing (49)

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Las Vegas, NV: Short-term rental owners in Las Vegas are pushing back as Clark County issues cease-and-desist notices to operators lacking licenses under rules that include a 1,000-foot spacing requirement many say makes legal operation nearly impossible.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Colorado: Saguache County has updated its Land Use Development Code, introducing new permitting requirements and a revised fee structure for STRs, including a $500 base fee for small rentals. Additionally, Eagle County will increase tourism and lodging taxes in 2026, affecting both short-term rentals and hotel stays.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Beaumont, TX: Beaumont has unanimously adopted new short-term rental regulations requiring annual safety inspections, zoning limits, and a 300-foot spacing rule to prevent clusters of STRs from changing neighborhood character.
• Saguache County, CO: Saguache County has adopted an updated Land Use Development Code that introduces new permitting requirements and a revised fee structure for short-term rentals, including a base $500 fee for small STRs.
• Greenport, NY: Greenport has approved a new short-term rental code allowing STRs only in properties used as primary residences, with no minimum stay required.
• Midway, UT: Midway approved several updates to its short-term rental rules, including requiring all hosts to display a property manager contact plaque for neighborhood complaints.
• Orange, CT: Orange has effectively banned short-term rentals under 30 days after residents complained about a luxury home being used for loud parties, prompting the Town Plan and Zoning Commission to approve the new rule unanimously.
• Brookhaven, GA: Brookhaven unanimously approved amendments strengthening its short-term rental rules by clarifying the definition of a host and requiring all STR operators to hold a valid permit.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Independence, MO: Independence temporarily suspends most of its short-term rental restrictions for the 2026 World Cup, allowing unlimited STRs, no spacing rules, and no caps on bedrooms from June 1 to July 30, 2026.
• Ship Bottom, NJ: Ship Bottom’s proposed overhaul of its short-term rental ordinance is triggering strong backlash as the borough moves to impose higher fees, stricter inspections, mandatory renter identification, and faster response requirements ahead of a Dec. 30 hearing.
• Carson City, NV: Carson City supervisors took no formal action on STRs but directed staff to begin crafting a regulatory framework, including zoning guidance and community outreach ahead of a February retreat.
• Annapolis, MD: Annapolis is considering a 12-month moratorium on new short-term rental licenses, proposed by Alderman Karma O’Neill with Mayor Jared Littmann’s backing.
• New Orleans, LA: A Fifth Circuit appeals panel questioned its jurisdiction in a New Orleans short-term rental case involving a property owner claiming “legal nonconforming use” after her STR permit expired under new zoning rules.
• Moore County, NC: In 2026, several U.S. counties including Moore, San Diego, Eagle, Saratoga, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami-Dade are increasing tourism and lodging taxes, affecting short-term rental and hotel stays.
• Westbury, NY: Westbury officials held a public hearing to amend the zoning code and formally clarify that short-term rentals are prohibited throughout the village.
• Sugarcreek, OH: Sugarcreek Village Council advanced amendments to its zoning code to regulate short-term rentals, removing a proposed registration fee but keeping requirements for owners to register properties at no cost.
• Easthampton, MA: Easthampton’s effort to create its first comprehensive short-term rental ordinance stalled after councilors objected to mandating a $5,000 whole-house fire and carbon monoxide system.
• Princeton, NJ: Princeton is preparing to adopt its first comprehensive short-term rental ordinance, aiming to introduce inspections, local permitting, and new taxes while curbing investor-owned STRs.
• Pullman, WA: Pullman’s new short-term rental regulations are back up for public comment as the planning commission reopens discussion on the rules that took effect in June.
• Craig, CO: Craig is restarting its short-term rental discussion by hosting a Dec. 11 open house to gather community feedback on whether the city should develop zoning, licensing, fee, or enforcement rules for STRs.

🌐 Global Notes

• Canada: Provinces across Canada are implementing higher accommodation taxes to fund tourism initiatives, major-event hosting, and public infrastructure upgrades.
• Huntsville, ON: Huntsville’s growing tourism industry is increasing demand on local services, including Huntsville Hospital, which treats residents, seasonal visitors and tourists alike.
• View Royal, BC: View Royal is considering a temporary pause on its short-term rental ban during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with council directing staff to study the impacts of a moratorium for June and July.
• Ireland: Ireland is joining 24 OECD nations in a global crackdown on undeclared income from foreign properties, introducing automatic data-sharing on ownership and rental earnings.
• England: England is set to join other European destinations in levying a local tourism tax, as new legislation allows city mayors to charge overnight visitors in hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets.
• Brisbane, Australia: Brisbane City Council is moving to restrict short-stay rentals in suburban neighbourhoods, ordering nearly 500 Airbnb-style homes to cease operating or obtain development approval by June 30, 2026.
• Milan, Italy: Milan is banning self-check-in key boxes for short-term rentals starting in January, with owners facing fines of about £350 for noncompliance.
• Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh intends to direct £5m from its soon-to-launch tourist tax toward building 472 affordable homes, linking the visitor levy directly to mitigating the city’s housing crisis.
• Canary Island, Spain: Following the passage of the Canary Islands’ new tourist-home regulation, President Fernando Clavijo defended Minister Jessica de León after she received threats and physical attacks tied to opposition against the short-term rental law.
• Bali, Indonesia: Bali is weighing a ban on Airbnb-style rentals as unregulated accommodations continue to strain infrastructure, reduce tax revenue, and worsen environmental damage.

📲 Social Buzz

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• Greenport, NY

• Princeton, NJ

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

Ocean City council extends short-term rental moratorium through 2027

Ocean City has extended its moratorium on new short-term rental licenses in residential and mobile home areas through January 2027. Officials are weighing measures like seven-night minimums and license caps, though some residents say their concerns continue to be ignored.

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Trying to keep up with the main players in the STR game? Know your councilmembers, commissioners, committee chairs, and key staff that are part of the process.

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