Short-Term Rental Regulations
Rental Scale-Up’s guide to the latest short-term rental regulations impacting property managers. This category tracks new rules from cities, regions, and countries—covering registration limits, primary residence caps, tax enforcement, zoning changes, and licensing updates. We break down what each policy means for property managers, what’s changing, and what action you need to take. From compliance risks to shifting business models, our regulatory coverage helps vacation rental pros stay legal, competitive, and prepared for what’s next.
Nearly €1M in Paris Airbnb Fines in Three Months: Regulation Enforcement in France Gains Momentum
In the latest France Airbnb regulations news, Paris issued nearly €1M in illegal short-term rental fines in Q1 2026 alone, backed by a new 150-person enforcement brigade. Fueled by the strict Loi Le Meur, authorities are aggressively targeting corporate landlords with doubled penalties. Crucially, starting May 20, 2026, new EU data-sharing laws will force platforms to report listing activity automatically. For property managers, this means the era of flying under the radar is officially over.
Missouri Sides With Rental Owners, Sacramento Targets Non-Resident Hosts, Alabama City Sets Hard Cap
Missouri's Senate passed SB 1066 by 30-3 on March 25 to block commercial property tax reclassification of short-term rentals — a loophole some assessors have used to triple host tax bills — with a companion House bill passing April 2. Sacramento's Planning Commission backed a primary-residence requirement on March 12 that would eliminate over 75% of the city's active permits, with a full council vote pending. Decatur, Alabama launched its first short-term rental registration programme on April 1 with a 150-unit annual cap and a 90-day grace period before fines begin.
Houston Sets the Clock, DC Opens Hosting, Industry Builds an Advocacy Fund
Houston's short-term rental ordinance is enforced and at 83% compliance, with platforms given until January 1, 2027 to delist non-compliant hosts — just after 7 FIFA World Cup matches at NRG Stadium project $370M+ in visitor spending. In Washington DC, Mayor Bowser's March 13 bill would allow renters to host legally for the first time. The Right to Rent Collaborative has embedded a $2/reservation advocacy contribution into Track Hospitality's property management software, the first time this funding model has been built directly into a reservation workflow.
Survive the EU Short-Term Rental registration Deadline: What Managers Must Do Next
TL;DR: EU Regulation 2024/1028 standardizes short-term rental enforcement by May 20, 2026, though local rollouts vary. Here is a 4-phase operational guidebook professional property managers need to audit their PMS data, update owner liability contracts, and survive the new machine-to-machine SDEP audits.
The May 20 EU Data Deadline: Should Property Managers Expect Mass Delistings?
TL;DR: EU Regulation 2024/1028 ends the "honor system" for short-term rentals by forcing platforms to share monthly activity data with local governments. While the official compliance deadline is May 20, 2026, enforcement is already live in countries like Spain. To prevent automated delistings—which platforms must execute within 10 days of an order—property managers must urgently audit their PMS-to-OTA data parity and update owner contracts to shift financial liability for non-compliance.
Indiana Sides With Landlords, Pennsylvania Eyes Baseline Rules, Montréal Faces Event Crunch
Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed HEA 1210 on March 12, prohibiting cities from capping residential rental properties — effective July 1, 2026 — while giving Carmel and Fishers until January 2028 to comply. Pennsylvania introduced HB 2303 on March 19, the state’s first uniform short-term rental framework, with a first committee hearing on March 25. In Montréal, a seasonal hosting restriction leaves more than 26,000 accommodation nights unmet during the Formula 1 Grand Prix (May 22–24) and UCI World Cycling Championships (September 19–27), with over $19 million in projected lost visitor spending — and the mayor has acknowledged the bylaw isn’t working.
Croatia Signals Rental Limits, Maui Rejects Rezoning Lifeline, and Evanston Shifts to Discretion-Based Oversight
TL;DR- The Maui Planning Commission rejected rezoning categories that could have saved nearly 7,000 apartment-zoned rentals. Meanwhile, Croatia is considering rental caps amid housing pressure, and Evanston has shifted to discretionary oversight under a fixed supply ceiling.
Pittsburgh Moves Toward Licensing, Cape Town Tightens Enforcement, and Kentucky Bill Seeks to Override Local Rules
TL;DR- Pittsburgh is moving toward licensing, zoning approval, and unit caps; Cape Town is increasing enforcement on commercial-scale operators; and Kentucky may override local STR restrictions entirely.
Ireland Restricts Rentals in Towns Over 20,000, Saratoga Imposes Full Ban, and Bandon Freezes New Applications
TL;DR- Ireland will now restrict STRs in towns with over 20,000 residents, giving existing operators two years to comply, while introducing planning oversight. In the U.S., Saratoga is enacting a total ban, adding fines, and hiring a monitoring firm to scan platforms. Meanwhile, Bandon, Oregon has paused new permits for 120 days while it evaluates local housing impact.
Spain to Remove 86,000 Listings, Airbnb Reveals Early FIFA World Cup Trends, and Key Data parters with BookingsCloud
TL;DR- Spain is stepping up enforcement on short-term rentals, ordering 86,000 listings to be taken down for non-compliance with its STR registry. Meanwhile, Airbnb has shared early FIFA World Cup 2026 trends—families, groups, and international travelers are leading demand. Cities are seeing extended trip interest. Key Data and BookingsCloud have partnered to help property managers turn real-time market data into automated direct booking ad campaigns.
Booking.com Bets on Astrology, Greece Tightens Rules, and Hawaii Signals Risk to 10,000 Vacation Rentals
TL;DR- Booking.com taps astrologer Esperanza Gracia to match 2026 travel with zodiac signs, embracing identity-led travel. Meanwhile, Greece is enforcing stricter STR rules, removing properties from the registry in designated zones after ownership change. In Hawaii, the Governor proposed converting at least 10,000 STRs to long-term housing, though no statewide policy exists yet.
Airbnb Partners With CookUnity, Viral Listings Highlight Demand Trends, San Diego Proposes UPTO $12,000+Tax
TL;DR- Airbnb has partnered with chef-led meal delivery service CookUnity to offer chef-prepared, ready-to-heat meals via Airbnb Services, expanding beyond accommodations. However, the service excludes hosts from participation or revenue. Meanwhile, Airbnb’s most viral listings of 2025 show that social media-friendly, nature-immersed, and visually unique stays drive demand. In regulatory news, San Diego is considering an $8K–$12K annual tax on STRs and second homes, signaling stricter pressure on corporate-owned and full-home vacation rentals. Property managers must now adapt to a landscape where platform moves, aesthetics, and regulation all reshape margins and strategy.
Airbnb Names New CTO, Booking.com’s Japan Play, Morocco Signals Regulations
TL;DR- This week’s short-term rental industry news highlights three developments. Airbnb has appointed a new chief technology officer, Ahmad Al-Dahle, from Meta. Booking.com joined Japanese travel leaders JTB and Rakuten Travel at a sustainability-focused industry event. Meanwhile, Morocco is moving toward regulating short-term rentals as part of a broader effort to curb rising housing costs.
Lisbon Tests Softer Rules, New Vrbo API, Investors Prioritize Stability Over Scale
Lisbon has approved a limited easing of vacation rental rules by reopening select neighbourhoods to new licenses, marking a shift in local regulatory strategy. Expedia has clarified how Vrbo listings are distributed through its B2B API network, expanding indirect reach while keeping control centralized. Meanwhile, a new Yes Consulting report shows investors prioritizing stability and resilience over rapid, asset-heavy growth in vacation rentals.
Maui Bill 9 Becomes Law: What the Final Ordinance Actually Does, and What Comes Next
TL;DR- Maui Bill 9 is now law under Ordinance No. 5909, mandating a phased-out end to apartment‑zoned short‑term rentals, including Minatoya-listed units. STR use must cease by January 1, 2029 in West Maui and January 1, 2031 elsewhere, with no opt-outs or renewals. Hotel- and resort-zoned rentals remain legal, while lawsuits and potential rezoning efforts may influence outcomes but do not change the law as written.
Spain Penalizes Airbnb Over Non-Compliance, Milan To Ban Key Boxes from 2026, Forge Tests AI Assistant
📌TL;DR- Spain has issued a €56M fine against Airbnb for non-compliant listings, signaling tougher enforcement under its new national STR registry. Milan will ban self-check-in key boxes on public property from 2026, adding another layer of local regulation in Italy. Meanwhile, Forge Holiday Group is testing an AI-powered concierge, highlighting how platforms are shifting toward conversational, data-driven travel search.
How Multi-Model Flexibility Can Help Property Managers Reduce the Impact of Regulations
📌TL;DR- Faced with London’s strict 90-day rental rule, Your AirHost scaled to 250 properties by building a flexible management model combining short-, mid-, and long-term stays. CEO Stefan Hoffelner explains how geographic diversification, guest segmentation, and owner-friendly agreements allowed them to grow sustainably while staying compliant. For property managers in regulated markets, this is a real-world playbook for adaptability, not just growth.
Maui Inches Toward Rental Ban, Bali Targets Unlicensed Villas, and PriceLabs gets Recognition
📌TL;DR- Maui’s Bill 9 advances again, potentially eliminating up to 6,000-7,000 short-term rentals by 2026 if final rezoning passes. Bali proposes strict licensing for villas, threatening thousands of unpermitted STRs. Meanwhile, PriceLabs’s Listing Optimizer tool wins industry recognition for helping property managers identify and fix low-converting listings at scale.
Budapest’s 6th District to Ban Rentals, Evolve Snaps Up 1,000 Former Vacasa Homes, and Airbnb-Friendly Apartments Cross 1,300 Buildings
📌TL;DR- Budapest’s 6th District will ban short-term rentals from 2026, raising concerns for property managers in heritage zones. Evolve has acquired 1,000 homes from the former Guestworks portfolio, inherited by Casago after its Vacasa acquisition. Meanwhile, Airbnb’s Friendly Apartments program hits 1,300 buildings, giving renters legal pathways to host, and offering managers a new semi-professional client base.
Maui U-Turns on Ban, Boom Launches AI Ops Agent, Airbnb Sees Italy Surge & Seniors Flocking South
Maui is pulling back from its full short-term rental ban, proposing to preserve 4,519 legacy STR units through new hotel zoning, while Boom has launched “BAM,” an AI-powered ops agent designed to automate STR management workflows post a $12.7M funding round. Meanwhile, Airbnb’s early winter 2025–26 trends (based solely on platform data) show Italy booming ahead of the Olympics, US families booking longer rural stays, and retirees heading to Florida.
