Executive Summary
Birmingham, Michigan, has paused all new short-term rentals while it writes a fuller set of rules. Anchorage, Alaska, opened its mandatory STR registry on May 1, with every operator (including bed & breakfasts) required to register by July 30, 2026 or lose the right to operate. Idaho's state preemption law takes effect July 1, stripping counties of their power to set STR rules on parking, lighting, occupancy, and events; Valley County commissioners just rejected a 10,000–15,000 square foot home cap partly because of it. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is trying to push a budget item that would let second-home owners run STRs through 2028, with Airbnb agreeing to prepay $50 million in transient occupancy taxes. Palm Springs is floating a 1% surcharge on STR stays to fund convention center upgrades. Arizona's HB 2429, which would let cities cap STR sleeping-area occupancy and extend the license-revocation window from 12 to 24 months, passed the House 37-14 in March but has stalled in the Senate.
New Regulations
Birmingham, Michigan
Published: May 3, 2026
Regulation Category: Moratorium
Summary: Birmingham has enacted a moratorium halting new STR operations while the city develops more comprehensive regulations. Officials in the Oakland County city say they need time to study best practices and address concerns about noise, parking, and the character of residential neighborhoods.
Source: Birmingham Enacts Moratorium on Short-Term Rentals, Urges More Regulations
Anchorage, Alaska
Published: May 1, 2026
Regulation Category: Licensing / Registration
Summary: Anchorage has opened a free online registration portal for all STR operators, including previously permitted bed & breakfasts, with a mandatory compliance deadline of July 30, 2026. Operators must hold a current State of Alaska business license and provide property, owner residency, seasonal availability, and local contact details to receive a municipal STR registration number.
Source: Registration opens for short-term rental owners
Valley County, Idaho
Published: May 1, 2026
Regulation Category: Zoning / State Preemption
Summary: Valley County commissioners rejected a proposed 10,000–15,000 square foot cap on single-family homes that was intended to curb large STR event venues, citing property rights and bureaucratic burden. The decision lands ahead of Idaho's new law effective July 1, which eliminates the county's STR permitting process and bars local rules on parking, lighting, occupancy, and events.
Source: 'Is it truly a residential use?': Valley Co. rejects home size cap, citing property rights
Developing Regulations
Los Angeles, California
Published: April 30, 2026
Regulation Category: Licensing / Zoning
Summary: Mayor Karen Bass has proposed allowing second-home owners to operate STRs through the end of 2028 ahead of the Summer Olympics, with Airbnb prepaying $50 million in transient occupancy taxes for infrastructure. The measure is being routed through the city budget and faces opposition from hotel unions, hotel companies, and affordable housing advocates who say it will deplete housing stock.
Source: LA considers expanding Airbnb-style short-term vacation rentals
Palm Springs, California
Published: May 1, 2026
Regulation Category: Tax
Summary: Palm Springs is proposing a 1% tax assessment on STR stays, with revenue dedicated to convention center improvements. A group of vacation rental owners is pushing back, arguing the tax targets them to fund a facility they will not directly benefit from.
Source: Airbnb could get more expensive in Palm Springs, and owners push back
Arizona (Statewide)
Published: May 1, 2026
Regulation Category: Occupancy / Licensing
Summary: Arizona's House Bill 2429 has stalled in the Senate after passing the House 37-14 in March. The bill would let local governments cap occupancy in STR sleeping areas, suspend licenses for serious building code violations, and extend the license-revocation window from 12 to 24 months for properties with three nuisance violations.
Source: Another year, another attempt at short-term rental reform
Chatham County, Georgia
Published: April 28, 2026Regulation Category: Zoning / Occupancy / TaxSummary: Chatham County is reviewing updates to its 2021 STR ordinance for unincorporated areas, with proposed changes including minimum distance requirements between rentals, lower occupancy limits for septic-system properties, and mandatory outdoor signage covering parking, occupancy, noise rules, and emergency contacts. The county also wants to tighten licensing and collect hotel/motel taxes from Airbnb and VRBO; residents at the stakeholder meeting pushed for dedicated compliance staff over new rules.Source: Chatham County eyes short-term rentals crackdown