This week's update covers new laws, permit requirements, and regulation news for hosts in:

• Goose Creek, South Carolina

• Washington, Missouri

• Coconino County, Arizona

• New Orleans, Louisiana

• Santa Barbara, California

• New York City, New York

You can watch the video versions of this week's regulation here on YouTube.

Or listen to the audio on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Goose Creek 

The city of Goose Creek, South Carolina, recently passed an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals, requiring owners to get a permit and business license. This comes after the issue was discussed at previous city council meetings, as the state has yet to pass any short-term rental laws. The regulations were passed unanimously by the city council and planning commission. Hosts will now need to apply for a permit which costs $100 annually, and acquire a business license if they plan to host stays under 30 days. All rentals must meet safety codes, and owners must be available 24/7 in case of issues. Owners must also notify adjacent homes before getting a permit. Additionally, proof of the notification must be provided in the form of a legal affidavit. The city highlights that the goal is to properly tax short-term rentals as it has lost tons of potential tax revenue. The new regulations are effective immediately.

Washington

After months of discussion, the Washington City Council approved regulation changes to several sections of the city code governing short-term rentals. Short-term rentals are now permitted by right in commercial districts zoned C-1, C-2, C-2 Overlay, and C-3. Hosts can also operate in the city’s R-2 Overlay and R-3 Multi-Family Residential zoning districts; however, hosts will require a special permit for the multi-family zones, and there must be a 150 ft buffer between existing rentals. All special permits can be revoked if a host does not pay tourism taxes for two consecutive quarters. There is no word on the cost of the new licenses.

Coconino County

Another county in Arizona has unanimously approved a short-term rental ordinance that will require hosts to register for an STR permit starting November 14th. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors passed a new regulation that aims to address resident complaints about absentee rental owners by requiring an emergency contact, banning parties, and looking to preserve single-family neighborhoods. Owners must also inform neighbors before listing their property. There has yet to be any news on the permit fee, but under state law, it can be at most $250.

New Orleans

New Orleans is set to hold their short-term rental permit lottery on August 14 to determine which property owners in residential neighborhoods will get a coveted license and which ones will be forced to shut down. Close to 2,000 applications were submitted for short-term rental permits before the application deadline in July. The new regulations aim to limit short-term rentals to one per residential block to address concerns about their impact on housing prices and neighborhood character. The city is looking to pass new regulations for STRs in commercial zones in the fall, but officials are still determining if they will hold another lottery. Even with these sweeping changes set to go into effect, hosts are not backing down, filing a federal lawsuit accusing the city of going back on a promise not to enforce new ordinances after short-term rentals won a previous federal lawsuit against the city, arguing the regulations were unconstitutional.

Santa Barbara

After voting on an enforcement plan in April, Santa Barbara has finally launched their 12-month pilot program to address illegal short-term rentals, which have exacerbated the area's housing shortage. The City Attorney's Office will oversee investigations and enforcement. Violators face fines of up to $1000 or 6 months of jail time per violation. The program includes a hotline and website for public complaints. Several reports have already come in since the program started.

New York City

 A New York judge dismissed lawsuits from Airbnb and hosts seeking to block new regulations on short-term rentals in New York City. The rules allow the city to require registration of short-term rentals and block illegal listings. Airbnb called it a "de facto ban" that would eliminate most of its NYC revenue, but the judge said the rules make sense given thousands of complaints about illegal rentals. Supporters say the laws will help enforce existing bans and curb illegal hotels, but Airbnb said the restrictions will hurt tourism and residents who earn extra income. The ruling allows enforcement to begin September 5, though Airbnb will likely appeal.