Executive Summary:
Barcelona just gave Airbnb 48 hours to remove illegal listings and plans to eliminate all tourist apartments by 2028, making it a dead-end investment. Newport News, Virginia, now requires owners to live in their rental property over half the year, killing opportunities for out-of-state investors. On the upside, Wisconsin courts overturned restrictive ordinances in both Summit and Neenah, reopening those markets for non-resident investors. Beverly Hills is moving toward a complete short-term rental ban with 12-month minimum lease requirements, while Londonderry, Vermont, wants to impose a one-year wait for new registrations and cap recently purchased properties at just 50 nights annually. Atlanta's struggle to enforce rules on 10,000 existing rentals shows the regulatory chaos that could either create opportunities or lead to stricter future crackdowns.
New Regulations
Barcelona, Spain
Published: July 8, 2025
Regulation Category: Licensing, Compliance
Summary: Barcelona has demanded Airbnb remove illegal short-term rentals within 48 hours, introducing stringent data verification and compliance monitoring. Investors face increased scrutiny and potential legal action, with the city aiming to eliminate tourist apartments by 2028, impacting long-term investment viability.
Source: Barcelona demands Airbnb remove illegal holiday rentals within 48 hours
Hermosa Beach, California
Published: July 10, 2025
Regulation Category: Zoning
Summary: A Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing Hermosa Beach from enforcing its short-term rental ban against a resident. The lawsuit looks to prohibit the city from enforcing its STR ban in the coastal zone, contending the city lacks authority to ban short term rentals in the coastal zone without Coastal Commission approval.
Source: Judge stops Hermosa Beach, California, enforcement of short-term rental ban
Newport News, Virginia
Published: July 9, 2025
Regulation Category: Licensing, Occupancy, Tax
Summary: Newport News will enforce a law requiring short-term rentals to be the owner's primary residence for over half the year, alongside permits, business licenses, safety standards, and occupancy tax compliance.
Source: Newport News to start enforcing short-term rental law Aug. 1
Summit, Wisconsin
Published: July 11, 2025
Regulation Category: Zoning
Summary: The Court of Appeals invalidated Summit's short-term rental ordinance due to improper enactment as a business law instead of a zoning amendment, freeing investors from previous licensing and penalty restrictions.
Source: Court voids Summit short-term rental ordinance
Neenah, Wisconsin
Published: July 9, 2025
Regulation Category: Zoning
Summary: A Wisconsin appeals court overturned Neenah's ordinance restricting short-term rental permits to primary residence owners, aligning with state law and opening opportunities for investors to operate rentals without residency requirements.
Source: Short-term rental rule overturned
Developing Regulations
Beverly Hills, California
Published: July 10, 2025
Regulation Category: Zoning
Summary: Beverly Hills is drafting regulations to ban short-term rentals, requiring minimum lease terms of 12 months for single-family homes and six months for multifamily properties.
Source: Prominent California city moves to ban Airbnb-style rentals
Atlanta, Georgia
Published: July 9, 2025
Regulation Category: Licensing, Zoning
Summary: Atlanta is struggling to enforce regulations on its estimated 10,000 short-term rentals, creating uncertainty for investors due to inconsistent policy application.
Source: Inside 11Alive News Investigates: What's going on with Atlanta's short-term rental debate?
Lewis County, Washington
Published: July 9, 2025
Regulation Category: Licensing, Zoning
Summary: Lewis County is considering new regulations for short-term rentals, including a permit system, safety inspections, and neighborhood caps, with public input accepted until July 21, 2025. Investors should be cautious as strong community opposition, particularly citing tourism benefits, may influence the final regulations.
Source: Lewis County meeting draws large crowd ahead of potential short-term rental regulations
Londonderry, Vermont
Published: July 11, 2025
Regulation Category: Licensing, Occupancy
Summary: Londonderry's proposed amendments include a one-year wait for new short-term rental registrations and a 50-night cap for un-hosted properties purchased recently. These changes aim to balance housing availability with tourism, but local businesses warn of economic impacts if passed.
Source: Short Term Rental amendments set for vote In Londonderry