The Airbnb Insider: This Week’s News & Regulations

Your 5-minute roundup of news Airbnb hosts actually care about.

Author

Dom Trovato
January 27, 2025

Good morning!

It’s Monday. Your inbox is probably fuller than your cleaning closet after a Costco run, so let’s get right to it.

Every week, I’ll serve up the Airbnb & STR news that matters most—think of it as your hosting cheat sheet. Some stories will make you laugh, some might make you sweat, but all of them will help you stay ahead of the game.

By the end of this email, you’ll know what’s trending, where the money’s moving, and which markets might make (or break) your next big investment.

This week? British Columbia dropped a new rental registry—think permits, fees, and compliance headaches—while Spain doubled down on its housing crisis with stricter limits in Barcelona and Málaga. But it wasn’t all bad news—Ohio dropped a big win for hosts, ruling that short-term rentals in residential zones are totally legal. Oh, and LA County eased rules for disaster relief, showing that not every regulator is out to ruin your day.

Let’s dive in.

Headline Roundup

  • B.C. launches short-term rental registry with annual fees in bid to stop market speculators (CBC News)

  • Key Data and STR Consulting Announce Partnership (Key Data)

  • STR: Strong December Growth in U.S. Hotel Occupancy Rate (Business Travel News)

  • Airbnb pivots to sheltering displaced families after Tropical Storm Helene (Citizen Times)

  • Palo Entrepreneur Brings Historic Train Cabooses to Life as New Airbnb (The Gazette)

  • What to Expect from Airbnb’s Q4 2024 Earnings Report (MSN)

  • Ohio Court Holds that Short-Term Rental Businesses in Residential-Only Zoning Districts Can Be Lawful (Ohio Court STR Ruling)

Short-Term Rental Regulations: This Week’s Roundup
(Jan 20–26, 2025)

Most hosts think regulations are boring. I get it.

But here’s the thing—ignoring them? That’s how you accidentally light $1 Million on fire.

Every day the game changes:

  • New booking restrictions drop out of nowhere

  • Neighbors file complaints

  • Cities flip-flop on zoning laws

While your competition is sleeping on these "boring" rules, you can turn them into your secret weapon.

🔑 Key Insights from this week

This week’s regulatory headlines were heavy with action across the globe. British Columbia shook things up with a mandatory short-term rental registry, signaling a major shift toward compliance enforcement starting May 2025. Edinburgh followed with a bold 5% tourist tax, designed to pour millions into infrastructure but raising eyebrows among businesses. Meanwhile, Spain doubled down on its housing crisis, with Málaga and Barcelona introducing hard limits on STRs. In the U.S., Ohio delivered a rare win for STR operators in residential zones, while LA County eased STR rules to support disaster victims. Across Sedona, Exeter, Chelan County, and Ocean City, smaller tweaks hit everything from permits to fire safety, zoning, and occupancy limits.

The big takeaway? Regulation isn’t slowing down, and every host should stay laser-focused on compliance to avoid getting blindsided.

British Columbia, Canada

Date of Announcement: January 20, 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Licensing and Compliance
Summary: The British Columbia government has launched a mandatory short-term rental (STR) registry to increase housing availability and enforce compliance. Starting May 1, 2025, all STR operators must register with the province and display a registration number on listings. Non-compliance will result in listing removal. Registration fees vary, with discounts available for early registration. Revenue will fund enforcement and community support.
Source: BC Gov News

Edinburgh, Scotland

Date of Announcement: January 25, 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Taxation
Summary: Edinburgh’s city council approved a 5% visitor levy on accommodations, capped at five nights, starting July 2025. Expected to generate £50 million annually by 2028, the funds will enhance local infrastructure, housing, and festivals. Businesses have expressed concerns about administrative burdens and reduced tourist spending.
Source: Edinburgh’s Tourist Tax

Spain (Málaga and Barcelona)

Date of Announcement: January 26, 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Zoning, Housing
Summary: Spain has introduced measures to regulate short-term rentals to address its housing crisis. Málaga limits rentals to 8% of the housing stock in 43 neighborhoods, while Barcelona will phase out 10,000 short-term rental licenses by 2028. The policies aim to prioritize housing for residents without significantly impacting tourism.
Source: EuroNews

Sedona, Arizona, USA

Date of Announcement: January 20, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Permitting and Auditing
Summary: Sedona city staff proposed stricter short-term rental regulations, including a permit-per-unit rule, biannual audits, and enforcement enhancements. These include $500 fines for violations and potential revocation of permits after repeated offenses. The city also plans to lobby for state-level changes to cap STR numbers.
Source: Sedona Red Rock News

Chelan County, Washington, USA

Date of Announcement: January 14, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Zoning, Occupancy, and Safety
Summary: Chelan County Commissioners are reviewing public comments on proposed STR code revisions, including occupancy limits, parking, and fire safety rules. Key issues include whether children under two count toward occupancy limits, consistency with booking platform guidelines, and requiring professional fire inspections instead of self-inspections. A decision is expected by January 28.
Source: Chelan County STR Code Revisions

Exeter, New Hampshire, USA

Date of Announcement: January 22, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Zoning
Summary: Exeter is proposing a zoning amendment to define short-term rentals as stays under 30 days, allowing them exclusively in two commercial districts and prohibiting them in residential areas. This effort aims to balance STR demand with community concerns.
Source: Exeter NH Moves to Legalize Airbnb STRs

Los Angeles County, California, USA

Date of Announcement: January 22, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Housing Protections, Short-Term Rentals
Summary: LA County passed measures protecting tenants from eviction for housing fire-displaced individuals and temporarily relaxed restrictions on short-term rentals (STRs) to increase housing availability for disaster victims. These provisions, including unlimited unhosted stays, will last until May 2026.
Source: LA County STR Protections

Ocean City, Maryland, USA

Date of Announcement: January 23, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Licensing, Occupancy, Management
Summary: The Ocean City Council approved the first reading of ordinances updating occupancy rules for short-term rentals and requiring owners to provide a contact person available within 60 minutes. Proposals to mandate property management companies were rejected, maintaining flexibility for property owners.
Source: OC Council Tackles STR Changes

Ohio, USA

Date of Announcement: January 23, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Zoning, Legal Precedent
Summary: Ohio's 11th District Court ruled in Russell Twp. Bd. of Trustees v. 7722 Fairmount LLC that a short-term rental business operating in a residential zoning district was lawful. The decision highlights the importance of clear zoning code language and sets a precedent favoring property owners.
Source: Ohio Court STR Ruling

Final Takeaway

Hosts can’t just worry about welcome baskets and thread count. 

The real money is made (or lost) in how you handle regulations, zoning, and local politics.

Stay informed, adapt fast, and keep building your empire.

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