Weekly Regulatory Briefing (51)

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Maui County, HI: Maui County has approved Bill 9, a sweeping law that will phase out more than 6,200 short-term vacation rentals in west and south Maui to address the island’s housing shortage.
• Clark County, NV: A Nevada district court judge has temporarily halted Clark County from enforcing fines, liens, and penalties against homeowners for short-term rental activity.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Massachusetts: A Massachusetts bill targeting “dark money” in local government has cleared an initial House vote and would require disclosure of spending aimed at influencing town meeting warrant articles.
• Arizona: Arizona cities are pushing to revise the state’s 2016 law that prevents local governments from banning short-term rentals, as the policy nears its 10-year mark.
• New Jersey: New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a bill to clarify how revenue from the state’s hotel and motel occupancy tax is distributed, setting permanent minimum funding levels for arts, history, and tourism programs.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Washington County, TN: Washington County, Tennessee has implemented a new lodging tax on hotels and short-term rentals to fund tourism growth, with rates varying by location and totaling up to 8% in some areas.
• Coconino County, AZ: The Coconino County Board unanimously adopted amendments increasing ADU allowances in line with HB2928, allowing up to three ADUs on larger lots.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Los Angeles, CA: Demand for short-term rentals near Los Angeles World Cup venues is surging, with prices and bookings spiking around matches at SoFi Stadium.
• Melbourne Beach, FL: The Melbourne Beach Town Commission voted to hire a finance clerk and convert code enforcement into a full-time position.
• Hocking County, OH: A hidden-camera case at a Hocking Hills short-term rental is renewing concerns about guest safety and oversight in the STR market.
• Bexley, OH: Bexley City Council is weighing a request that could eliminate the city’s only commercial short-term rental, the Bexley Bed and Breakfast.
• Ship Bottom, NJ: Ship Bottom’s proposed short-term rental ordinance was rejected after Mayor William Huelsenbeck cast the tie-breaking vote at a packed special council meeting.
• Sandpoint, ID: Sandpoint officials moved forward with changes to the city’s short-term rental rules after concluding the existing unit cap likely violates state law.
• New York City, NY: New York City Council members are heading into their final meeting of the term facing a potential showdown over housing bills, including a proposal that could reopen the door to more short-term rentals.
• Riverside, MO: The Riverside Board of Aldermen reviewed a proposed ordinance that would introduce short-term rental regulations, including safety standards, a permit system, and hotel-style tourism tax requirements.
• Washington County, PA: County leaders in Washington County are weighing changes to the hotel tax ordinance that would give commissioners more oversight of how tourism dollars are spent.
• Oneida County, NY: Short-term rental owners in Oneida County must register their properties by Jan. 1, 2026, to continue listing on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, following a new state law requiring county STR registries.
• Clinton County, PA: The Clinton County Board of Commissioners reviewed a proposed ordinance update that would reaffirm the Clinton County Economic Partnership as the county’s official tourism promotion agency for hotel tax distribution.
• San Luis Obispo County, CA: San Luis Obispo County supervisors voted 3–2 to allow Blacklake Golf Resort to begin the application process for an expansion that would add 125 new homes in Nipomo, with more than half eligible for short-term rentals.

📲 Social Buzz

📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:

• Ship Bottom, NJ

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

Yates lawmakers renew mortgage tax, opt out of rental registry | Fingerlakes1.com

A recent vote by Yates County lawmakers will keep a long-running mortgage tax in place while sidestepping a new state requirement tied to short-term rentals. The County Legislature adopted two local laws that affect homeowners, lenders, and short-term rental oversight across Yates County. Mortgage recording tax extended One of the new laws renews Yates County’s… MoreYates lawmakers renew mortgage tax, opt out of rental registry

Fingerlakes1.comStaff Report

Yates lawmakers renew mortgage tax, opt out of rental registry

Yates County lawmakers voted to extend the county’s mortgage recording tax through Dec. 1, 2027, while opting out of a new state requirement to create a short-term rental registration system. The decisions maintain an existing revenue source and avoid adding county-level oversight of short-term rentals.

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