Weekly Regulatory Briefing (5) 01/30/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• San Diego, CA: San Diego’s push to impose new taxes on short-term rentals and empty second homes stalled Wednesday when the City Council’s Rules Committee voted to kill the proposal.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• District of Columbia: A D.C. homeowner won a rare court victory after a judge ruled that an Airbnb guest who stayed 32 days had no tenant rights and could be removed immediately.
• Washington: Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow licensed short-term rentals, including Airbnbs, to offer adult guests a complimentary marijuana preroll.
• Florida: Florida lawmakers advanced a bipartisan bill that would impose new pool and water safety requirements on licensed vacation rentals and long-term rental properties.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• New York City, NY: New York City has adopted a rule banning hidden hotel fees ahead of the World Cup, requiring all mandatory charges to be included in advertised room prices.
• Plover Village, WI: Plover village officials approved updates to the short-term rental ordinance to comply with Wisconsin court rulings that limit local authority over vacation rentals.
• Montrose Borough, PA: Montrose Borough Council unanimously approved a zoning ordinance amendment that formally allows and regulates short-term rentals across all zoning districts.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Clark County, NV: A southeast Las Vegas neighborhood is grappling with ongoing disturbances from a short-term rental while Clark County’s STR enforcement is partially frozen by a federal court injunction.
• Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles officials are moving forward with a ballot measure that would raise the transient occupancy tax on hotels and short-term rentals, citing ongoing budget shortfalls and upcoming mega-events.
• Summit County, UT: Summit County is strengthening its short-term rental enforcement program by deploying new listing-tracking software and introducing a 24-hour hotline to manage complaints and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Brea, CA: Brea city officials have introduced a short-term rental pilot program that would legalize STRs for the first time, paired with a $1,000 annual permit fee and new operating rules.
• Lead, SD: Lead city commissioners are holding off on supporting an amendment to the city’s short-term rental ordinance that would establish penalties for violations tied to complaints.
• Marshall, TX: Visit Marshall has opened applications for its Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund Grant. The grant reimburses approved expenses after activities are completed and proper documentation is submitted.
• Manhattan Beach, CA: Manhattan Beach voted not to temporarily lift its short-term rental ban for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, rejecting a proposed ordinance that would have allowed citywide rentals during the event.
• Pacifica, CA: Pacifica is at the center of a heated debate over short-term rentals as strict new regulations await approval from the California Coastal Commission for the city’s coastal neighborhoods.
• Stowe, VT: Stowe’s selectboard is considering sweeping new restrictions on short-term rentals as it grapples with a worsening housing shortage in the resort town.
• Kenton County, KY: Several Kenton County mayors are pushing back against a proposed state bill that would strip local governments of the power to regulate short-term rentals.
• Scituate, MA: The Scituate Select Board voted to delay the North Scituate sewer expansion vote until a September Special Town Meeting to allow time for firmer cost estimates.
• Ocean City, MD: A local Ocean City group is pushing back against proposed short-term rental restrictions, submitting a petition with 1,257 signatures to challenge the moratorium in R1 and MH districts.
• Morro Bay, CA: City officials in Morro Bay are exploring tougher penalties for illegally operating short-term rentals after successfully reducing overall STR numbers last year.
• Virginia Beach, VA: Virginia Beach City Council is considering raising its room night tax on short-term rentals by shifting from a per-unit fee to a per-bedroom charge.
• Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque City Councilors are reviving a proposal to limit the concentration of short-term rentals by prohibiting new permits within 330 feet of an existing STR.
• Sandpoint, ID: In a separate 4–2 vote, councilors overhauled the city’s short-term rental ordinance by removing the cap on non-owner-occupied STRs, citing recent Idaho court rulings and legal risk.
• Haines City, FL: Haines City is increasing enforcement against short-term rentals operating illegally by launching a mandatory city registry.

📲 Social Buzz

Episode Title: Real Estate Year end Recap
Episode: The Brevoort Homes Podcast

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• Washington: The bill is scheduled for its first hearing before the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee.

• Marshall, TX: The application deadline is Feb. 27, with final approval handled by the City Council.

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

Airbnb rules have literally split this Bay Area beach town in two

Half of the city has some of the strictest short-term vacation rental rules on the California coast. The other half is still waiting.

San Francisco ChronicleAnna Bauman

Airbnb rules have literally split this Bay Area beach town in two

Pacifica remains sharply divided over short-term rentals as strict new inland rules have already driven many Airbnb operators out, while coastal neighborhoods await a final decision from the California Coastal Commission.

Social Listening 🎧: Podcast

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