There are nearly 14,000 legal short-term rentals on the island of Maui. But more than half of those rentals – specifically a group of units in apartment-zoned districts – could be nixed from the STR map under a new proposal.
Hawaii’s governor recently signed a law boosting regulatory power over STRs. And Maui officials are first off the blocks. Proposed legislation on the island could shut down nearly half of those currently legal STRs.
The goal is to address Maui's housing crisis for residents. County officials say the approximately 7,000 STRs used to be homes for island workers and should be returned to the local housing market. Wildfires displaced thousands of residents last year and magnified an exciting housing crisis. If passed, the legislation would impact West Maui’s STRs in July 2025 and the full island starting in January 2026.
Thousands of miles away, a bill in Cleveland, Ohio, would land a similarly severe blow. Legislation before the city council would effectively ban 44 percent of STRs. The bill would prohibit STR bookings over 30 days, limit the number of guests, and mandate hosts acquire a license and limit the number of STRs in a building.
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:
- Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs said she has no immediate plan for regulating STRs, after signing a bill into law that allows “accessory dwelling units” that can be rented out on a short-term basis if the owner lives on property. (link)
- Virginia Beach, Virginia: A bill that would have loosened STR rules on parking and occupancy was pulled amid pending litigation. (link)
- Sparta, New Jersey: City officials voted to ban STRs after complaints over noise, parking and garbage. (link)
- Ocean City, Maryland: City officials voted to move ahead with new STR regulations but don’t have a timeline. (link)
- Del Mar, California: City officials are planning to vote in November on placing a transient occupancy tax on STRs. (link)
- Pullman, Washington: City officials are weighing a new approach to regulating STRs after a prior policy left the municipality unable to enforce compliance. (link)
- Woodland Park, Colorado: Residents are suing over an ordinance they argue limits STRs so severely that they may have to sell. (link)
Other Noteworthy News:
- Convention surge: The 2024 Republican and Democratic national conventions are surging demand for STRs in Milwaukee and Chicago. (link)
- Pocket money: Apartments in San Francisco are allowing tenants to rent out their units for short stays to make a little extra cash. (link)
- Splash zone: Mecklenburg County in North Carolina is cracking down on homeowners renting out their pools, but still permit STR owners to offer pools as an amenity. (link)
- White flag: Nantucket’s largest corporate STR operator listed 10 of its 12 properties for sale just days after voters enacted a ban on corporate STRs. (link)
