Executive Summary
Salt Lake City adopted its first licensing rules for short-term rentals, effective July 1, 2026, requiring every Airbnb and Vrbo listing to register. Madison, Alabama went further, capping permits at 190 citywide and adding annual inspections, occupancy limits, and a 30-minute complaint-response rule, passing 5-1 on the framework. Chincoteague, Virginia went the other way, rejecting a proposed ban on new STRs in 10 R-1 neighborhoods and a fee hike from $50 to $500, opting for a housing study first. In Boyle County, Kentucky, the Board of Adjustments approved several conditional-use permits, including one on a 29-acre farm. Two larger proposals are still in play: the City of Sydney wants to slash its 180-day cap and add a levy plus a primary-residence rule, and Nevada City, California may put a new ordinance on its November ballot. Chatham County, Georgia tabled its revised ordinance after residents pushed back over absentee investors and septic strain.
New Regulations
Salt Lake City, Utah
Licensing · Published June 22, 2026
Salt Lake City adopted its first-ever licensing rules for short-term rentals, taking effect July 1, 2026. Every Airbnb and Vrbo listing must now be licensed, with the framework aimed at reining in problem properties and cutting down on parties.
→ Source: SLC places new rules on short-term rentals. What are they?
Madison, Alabama
Licensing · Published June 23, 2026
The Madison City Council voted to allow short-term rentals and adopt a regulatory framework, capping permits at 190 citywide and requiring annual permits and inspections. The rules also set occupancy and parking limits and require a responsible party to respond to complaints within 30 minutes, passing 4-2 to allow STRs and 5-1 on the regulations.
→ Source: After hours of debate, Madison joins cities regulating rather than banning short-term rentals
Chincoteague, Virginia
Zoning · Published June 23, 2026
The Chincoteague Town Council rejected a proposed ban on new short-term rentals in 10 R-1 neighborhoods along with a fee increase from $50 to $500. The town will instead move forward with housing and economic impact studies that could later inform a zoning overlay limiting where STRs operate.
→ Source: Chincoteague rejects restrictions on short-term rentals
Boyle County, Kentucky
Zoning / Conditional Use · Published June 21, 2026
The Boyle County Board of Adjustments approved conditional use permits for several short-term rentals, including one on a 29-acre agricultural parcel off U.S. 127 South. Approvals came with standard conditions such as local transient room taxes and zoning permits, reflecting how rural counties are folding STRs into existing conditional-use frameworks.
→ Source: Boyle Board of Adjustments Approves Short-Term Rental Permits, Hears Neighborhood Concerns
Developing Regulations
Chatham County, Georgia
Zoning / Licensing · Published June 15, 2026
Chatham County commissioners are revising the short-term rental ordinance first approved in 2021, weighing minimum distance requirements between rentals, occupancy limits, septic-impact rules, and license-visibility mandates. Commissioners tabled the ordinance for further review after residents raised concerns about absentee investors and septic strain on Talahi Island.
→ Source: Chatham County reviews short-term rental ordinance
Sydney, Australia
Caps / Levy · Published June 21, 2026
The City of Sydney is proposing to cut its 180-day annual cap on short-term lets, add a levy modeled on Victoria's, and limit short-term renting to a host's primary residence. Airbnb is pushing back, arguing many residents rely on the income to help cover their mortgage, while the council aims to return housing to the long-term market.
→ Source: Airbnb Attacks City of Sydney's Plan to Crack Down on Holiday Rentals
Nevada City, California
General · Published June 23, 2026
Nevada City is preparing a short-term rental ordinance that could land on the November 2026 ballot, since the current voter-adopted rules can only be changed by voters. A June 30 public meeting will walk residents through the draft, which covers permit eligibility, neighborhood compatibility, parking, and enforcement.
→ Source: City of Nevada City Invites Community to Review Proposed Short-Term Rental Ordinance
