10 short-term rental regulatory changes across the US
Baytown City Council approved a new short-term rental ordinance on July 9, 2026 requiring $350 annual permits with Fire Marshal inspections at renewal, a 24/7 local contact within 50 miles, a 7% hotel-motel occupancy tax, stays capped at 30 days, and occupancy limited to 10 people. Parking requirements are tied to bedroom count.
Chatham County commissioners voted on July 10, 2026 to impose a 120-day moratorium on new short-term vacation rental (STVR) applications. No new STVR licenses will be accepted through November 7, 2026 while the county rewrites its 2021 STR ordinance. Existing permits remain valid.
New coverage confirms Gwinnett County commissioners approved a Short-Term Rental Ordinance effective April 14, 2027, following a nine-month task force process. Requirements include annual licenses for stays under 30 days, a designated local property manager, and mandatory inspections. Corporate ownership limits are under consideration.
Buena Vista's Board of Trustees held a work session July 14, 2026 to review non-binding recommendations from its Short-Term Rental Committee. The town's moratorium on new STR licenses has been in effect since January 13, 2026 through September 2026 while the STR code is rewritten. Ordinance No. 9 (Sept 2025) currently caps out-of-county licenses at 119 and in-county non-resident licenses at 30, with R-1 and R-1 OT zones prohibited for out-of-county owners.
The Nevada Supreme Court issued a ruling on July 10, 2026 barring Clark County from denying short-term rental applications solely because a property uses a septic system. The host-favorable decision expands STR permit eligibility in the county.
The Windward Planning Commission scheduled consideration of Bill 147 for July 16, 2026 after the Leeward Commission deferred it following a four-hour hearing that drew mostly opposition testimony from current STR and B&B operators. The Windward Commission's outcome will determine whether the bill advances to the County Council.
Starkville is advancing a proposed ordinance to extend its existing 2% hotel tax to Airbnb and VRBO stays, enabled by 2025 Mississippi state law (MS SB 2805). A second public hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2026. A $15 annual license fee is also proposed for operators. The Building & Housing Code Section 17.6 currently explicitly exempts STRs from licensing.
Strasburg Township supervisors voted 3-0 on July 6, 2026 to advance a draft zoning amendment that would restrict new short-term rentals to the Gateway North commercial zone only. STRs are currently permitted in agricultural and rural residential zones by special exception, with some owners circumventing on-site residency requirements. The amendment moves to planning commission review with a possible final vote at the August 3 meeting.
Bella Vista City Council is expected to vote at its July 27, 2026 meeting on raising the short-term rental permit ceiling from 600 to 687 units — a nearly 15% increase — to align with the city's population growth.
Lewisboro's Town Board has scheduled a July 27, 2026 meeting to resume short-term rental discussions. The board has drafted its own STR proposal but is holding off on codifying it pending public feedback — approximately 40 emails have been received with a slight majority favoring regulation. No ordinance has been adopted.
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