Weekly Regulatory Briefing (6) 02/06/2026

🏡Top Stories This Week

• Las Vegas, NV: Las Vegas police raided a home operating as an Airbnb after reports that guests became “deathly ill,” uncovering what authorities say was an illegal biolab inside the property
• Santa Monica, CA: Santa Monica has filed a lawsuit accusing the landlords of more than 25 rent-controlled properties of illegally converting apartments into short-term rentals in violation of the city’s Residential Leasing Requirements Ordinance.
• Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque’s City Council has once again rejected an effort to further regulate short-term rentals, voting down a proposal that would have imposed minimum spacing requirements between Airbnbs and Vrbos.

🌍 Regional Highlights

• Kentucky: Kentucky lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 112, which would block local governments from regulating short-term rentals through zoning and permitting requirements.
• Arizona: Short-term rentals have reemerged as a major point of contention in the Arizona Legislature, as lawmakers advance bills that would significantly expand local authority over vacation rentals.

📜 New Ordinances Approved

• Delaware County, PA: Delaware County Council unanimously apprved a 2-percentage-point increase to its hotel occupancy tax, raising the rate from 3% to 5% effective April 1.
• Isle, MN: Isle City Council formally approved Ordinance 209, establishing a moratorium on new short-term rental permits beginning in 2026.
• Decatur, AL: The Decatur City Council approved a new short-term rental ordinance in a 4–1 vote, establishing stricter rules for Airbnb and similar properties.
• Skokie, IL: The Skokie Village Board voted 5–1 to approve a new 18-month pilot program regulating short-term rentals, requiring owners to register by April 1.
• Sugarcreek, OH: The Sugarcreek Village Council has approved amendments to the village zoning code addressing short-term rentals, following a public hearing where no residents spoke.
• McCall, ID: Idaho lawmakers have introduced a bill that would significantly restrict McCall’s ability to regulate short-term rentals, including banning local permits, inspections, caps, and spacing rules.
• St. Louis, MO: St. Louis officials are considering a new tax on short-term rentals while legal challenges delay enforcement of the city’s 2023 regulatory ordinance.

💬 Catch Up on Discussions

• Orem, UT: Orem city leaders are reconsidering how to handle short-term rentals after state lawmakers expanded local authority through Utah’s HB 256.
• Atascadero, CA: The City of Atascadero will hold a public workshop on Feb. 5 to collect feedback on potential updates to its short-term rental regulations.
• Myrtle Beach, SC: A federal lawsuit opposing Myrtle Beach’s ban on converting short-term rentals into long-term rentals is unfolding as employees at a major oceanfront resort report months of unpaid wages.
• Ellenville, NY: Ulster County officials are beginning to test and refine their new short-term rental law as the first legal permit applications move forward in Ellenville.
• Saratoga, CA: Saratoga is moving toward a full ban on short-term rentals, with the City Council voting 4–1 on Jan. 21 to prohibit both STRs and the advertising of listings on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.
• Cape Coral, FL: Cape Coral has implemented an updated Residential Rental Registration Program requiring all long-term and short-term rental properties to register and renew annually under Ordinance 53-25 and Resolution 279-25.
• Sterling Heights, MI: Sterling Heights is weighing tougher action on short-term rentals, which are currently prohibited in residential zones but continue to operate across the city.
• Omaha, NE: Omaha City Councilman Ron Hug is exploring a potential ordinance to regulate short-term rentals following a fatal overdose at a rental near 52nd and A streets.
• Worcester County, MD: Worcester County officials are considering rewriting short-term rental parking rules after a staff error led some homeowners in The Landings, West Ocean City, to receive licenses they didn’t technically qualify for.
• Kansas City, MO: Kansas City is expected to see an estimated $105 million in economic activity from Airbnb stays during the World Cup, according to a Deloitte analysis.
• Southold, NY: Southold Town officials are considering a new permitting system for short-term rentals that would cap them at 1% of all housing units, potentially reducing existing rentals by more than 87%.
• Loudonville, OH: Loudonville officials are considering tighter controls on short-term rentals as concerns grow about the number of Airbnbs in the village.

📲 Social Buzz

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

Brea Rolls Out Airbnb Program Ahead of 2028 Olympics

City council members approved short-term rentals in an attempt to bring in more tax revenue ahead of major tourist events in neighboring cities.

Voice of OCSpencer Custodio

Brea Rolls Out Airbnb Program Ahead of 2028 Olympics

Brea has rolled out a short-term rental pilot program that would legalize up to 100 rentals through a lottery system, each requiring a $1,000 annual permit and strict safety, parking, and noise rules. City officials say the program could generate about $500,000 a year in permit fees and lodging taxes while giving the city stronger tools to regulate and enforce rentals ahead of major regional events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

STRisker News Tracker

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