Maui takes major step in short-term rental crackdown 

Maui has taken a major step to crack down on short-term rentals. 

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend a proposal that would phase out more than 7,000 STRs on the island. 

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen hopes the proposed measure will help the island convert STRs into long-term housing for residents amid a housing crisis. Last year’s Lahaina wildfire magnified the lack of affordable housing on the island, destroying more than 5,000 homes and displacing 12,000 people. 

The proposal focuses on STRs in "apartment districts,” located primarily in West and South Maui, where developers have been allowed to build condos, hotels and other units for vacation rentals in years past.

Local officials are discussing giving property owners three years to comply with the proposed ordinance. A city council vote to approve the ordinance has yet to be scheduled. 

The action on Maui comes amid a wave of proposed legislation to regulate STRs across Hawaii. On the Big Island, officials decided on a plan to analyze the economic impact of STRs. But the study likely won’t slow proposed measures already moving through the legislature.

Below, please find Property Guard's weekly short term rental regulation round-up, highlighting state and local news regarding short term rental regulations to regulate (or prohibit) Airbnbs and other STRs. If you want a comprehensive data solution on STR regulations in all 20,000 state and local jurisdictions, contact us here.

New and Proposed Regulations:

• Sarasota, Florida: City commissioners agreed to adopt citywide restrictions on vacation rentals that currently apply only to certain areas near the beach. (link) 
• Mountain City, Tennessee: A first-ever ordinance regulating STRs was approved by the city council, outlining requirements and fees for rental operators. (link) 
• Dana Point, California: An initiative to regulate how the city manages permits for STRs will be on the ballot in November. (link) 
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin: City officials are set to vote on new regulations that would require STR owners to live on-site at their rental properties. (link) 

Other Noteworthy News:

• Behind bars: New York sentenced a Florida man who called himself the “Wolf of Airbnb” to over four years in jail after he illegally sublet 18 Manhattan residences and earned over $1 million in revenue. (link)
• Neighborhood watch: Norfolk, Virginia, launched a portal to make it easier for residents to weigh in on STRs, allowing them to submit complaints anonymously. (link) 
• Long-term solutions: San Diego residents are calling for stricter, long-term solutions to address ongoing problems with STRs, including requiring vacation rental owners to live on-site. (link)
• Island fever: The anti-STR fever raging in European cities like Barcelona has hit the island of Cyprus. Residents make the case that vacation rentals are fueling a housing crisis. (link)