Weekly Regulatory Briefing (6)
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
- 🚜 South Plainfield, NJ: South Plainfield has officially banned short-term rentals through Ordinance 2321, prohibiting the rental of any dwelling for fewer than 30 days unless it falls under an approved hotel, motel, boarding house, or bed and breakfast.
- 🏙️ Lake Havasu, AZ: Lake Havasu City Council has approved a resolution calling on state leaders to restore local control over short-term rental regulations, citing housing challenges in the region.
- 💻 Newport, RI: Newport, RI has launched an online short-term rental portal to improve registration and compliance for the city's estimated 360 STRs.
Genelaine Urbano
Read more on Daily Notes 02/05/2025
- 📱 Fountain Hills, AZ: Fountain Hills has introduced an online permit portal for short-term rental operators requiring all existing STRs to register within 60 days to avoid violations.
- ⚖️ Lancaster, PA: A Lancaster property owner involved in a years-long short-term rental dispute pleaded guilty to building code violations with the city citing 42 infractions across multiple STR properties.
🌍 Regional Highlights
- 🥥 Hawaii: Hawaii's vacation rental market is experiencing a sharp decline with 2024 occupancy rates dropping to 52% compared to 73% for hotels.
Genelaine Urbano
Read more on Daily Notes 02/03/2025
- 🚵♂️ Utah: Utah may soon give local officials more power to enforce short-term rental rules as lawmakers advance HB256 – a bill allowing municipalities to use rental listings as supporting evidence of violations.
- 🏘️ Maryland: Maryland lawmakers are considering HB 87, a bill that would tighten short-term rental regulations through clearer safety standards and improved tax collection.
📜 New Ordinances Approved
- 🏡 Niskayuna, NY: The Niskayuna Town Board has updated its short-term rental ordinance voting 3-1 on Tuesday to implement new restrictions. Under the revised law, hosts must be on-site during rentals, occupancy is capped at two guests per bedroom plus the host, and parking is limited to one vehicle per bedroom.
- 📒 Weatherford, TX: Weatherford City Council has approved new regulations for short-term rentals requiring owners to obtain a permit renewed every two years, submit compliance documentation, and adhere to occupancy limits.
Genelaine Urbano
Read more on Daily Notes 02/04/2025
- 🦺 Fairport Harbor, OH: Fairport Harbor Village has adopted new regulations for short-term rentals, requiring property owners to register with the village and comply with safety measures.
- 🗺️ The Lackawanna City Council voted 3-2 to enact a total ban on short-term rentals forcing about 25 property owners to cease operations.
💬 Catch Up on Discussions
- 🧾 Milton, DE: Milton’s Planning and Zoning Commission is working on an advisory report for town council regarding short-term rentals with a public workshop scheduled last Feb 3.
- 🎤 Rochester, MA: Rochester voters rejected a proposed zoning bylaw that would have imposed new regulations on short-term rentals during the Jan. 27 Special Town Meeting.
- 🌊 Two Rivers, WI: The City of Two Rivers is considering changes to its short-term rental regulations focusing on occupancy limits and transparency for residents about licensed properties.
- 👨💼 Falmouth, MA: A new committee dedicated to short-term rental reform is set to be appointed by the select board in February, aiming to refine a bylaw for future consideration at Town Meeting.
- 💼 Birmingham, AL: The City of Birmingham has filed a lawsuit seeking to declare a short-term rental in the College Hills neighborhood a public nuisance due to repeated incidents of violence.
- 🖱️ Narragansett, RI: The Town of Narragansett has delayed the registration of short-term and summer-only rentals due to an ongoing legal challenge against its new short-term rental ordinance which is currently under a temporary restraining order.
- 🌴 Maui, HI: Maui is grappling with growing uncertainty over short-term rental regulations that may disrupt both visitor accommodations and the local economy.
- 🌊 Ocean City, MD: Ocean City officials voted on stricter short-term rental regulations with a council meeting scheduled last Monday.
- 💹 Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara’s short-term rental market contributed $2.4 million to the city’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue so far this fiscal year with total collections reaching $19.5 million—$17.1 million from hotels.
- 🎱 Bastrop, TX: A proposed ordinance in Bastrop would require short-term rental operators to register with the city and comply with new guest information requirements.
- 🐂 Austin, TX: Austin is considering stricter short-term rental regulations with proposals requiring license numbers on listings, better tax collection, and increased enforcement against unlicensed operators. The next public hearings are scheduled for Feb. 11 and Feb. 27.
- 🏑 Greensboro, NC: Greensboro officials are considering changes to a rule requiring short-term rentals to be at least 750 feet apart.
- 📞 Surry, ME: Surry is considering a new short-term rental ordinance aimed at addressing housing shortages and maintaining the town’s character.
- 📎 Tarpon Springs, FL: Tarpon Springs commissioners are hesitant to revise short-term rental rules due to concerns over losing the city’s grandfathered status under Florida law.
- 📜 Melbourne Beach, FL: The Melbourne Beach Town Commission delayed the first reading of Ordinance 2024-05, which addresses vacation rental regulations, after extensive discussion during its Jan. 15 meeting.
- 👮♀️ Long Beach, CA: The Long Beach City Council has approved the first reading of new short-term rental regulations aimed at curbing crime and improving enforcement.
Let’s Explore: Emerging Trends 🌱
As short-term rentals (STRs) reshape local markets, communities are introducing new measures to address emerging concerns. From stronger enforcement to legal debates and neighborhood protections, these actions highlight the evolving nature of STR regulations.
What this means:
🚫 Increasing Local Bans and Restrictions: Cities and towns continue to tighten regulations on short-term rentals with outright bans becoming more common. South Plainfield, NJ and Lackawanna, NY have prohibited short-term rentals entirely, while other locations such as Niskayuna, NY, Weatherford, TX, and Fairport Harbor, OH have adopted stricter occupancy limits, registration requirements, and zoning restrictions.
🪑 Push for Local Control Over STR Regulations: More cities and counties are urging state governments to give them greater authority over short-term rentals. Lake Havasu, AZ passed a resolution calling for legislative action, while Utah’s HB256 seeks to give municipalities stronger enforcement tools. Similar efforts are underway in Maryland with HB87, which aims to improve safety standards and tax compliance. This trend highlights the ongoing tension between state preemption laws and local governments seeking tailored regulations.
🚔 Expansion of STR Compliance and Enforcement Tools : Many jurisdictions are launching new compliance measures to regulate short-term rentals more effectively. Newport, RI, and Fountain Hills, AZ have introduced online registration portals to track and manage STRs, while Austin, TX is considering stricter enforcement mechanisms, including requiring license numbers on listings. Additionally, legal actions like Birmingham, AL’s lawsuit to declare an STR a public nuisance illustrate how cities are exploring alternative enforcement strategies beyond standard permitting and fines.
📅 Future Meetings and Public Hearings/Comments:
- Minnehaha County, SD: Minnehaha County is considering allowing short-term rentals in rural areas outside Dell Rapids through a proposed ordinance amendment that will face a public hearing on February 25.
- Austin, TX: Austin is considering stricter short-term rental regulations with proposals requiring license numbers on listings, better tax collection, and increased enforcement against unlicensed operators. The next public hearings are scheduled for February 11 and February 27.
- Iberia Parish, LA: The Iberia Parish Council has asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to explore short-term rental regulations, with discussions set to begin at the commission’s February 10 meeting.
- Melbourne Beach, FL: The town attorney noted 20 necessary changes, leading officials to postpone the reading to Jan. 27 to incorporate revisions. A second reading is scheduled for February 19.