NBSTRA Members’ Meeting Recap: 2025 Was a Year of Alliance Growth and Building Partnerships
Executive Summary
NBSTRA held an online members meeting to review its first year, report on progress with the City of Newport Beach, and set priorities for 2026.
Through its lobbying team, NBSTRA has met with every City Council member, the new City Manager, and STLP enforcement leadership, solidifying its role as the organized voice of STR owners and managers.
NBSTRA is in discussions with the City to establish a formal working group focused on improving the Short Term Lodging Permit (STLP) program, with particular attention to public safety and enforcement during major holiday weekends.
Members shared a range of experiences with enforcement, violations, and appeals, and NBSTRA will request comprehensive data and clearer written guidance from the City to ensure fair, consistent treatment on issues like complaints, citations, and TOT.
The alliance is exploring practical solutions – such as a trash “concierge” service and stronger best-practice standards – to reduce complaints and improve relationships with both neighbors and the City.
NBSTRA currently represents roughly 200 of an estimated 900 actively renting STLP permits and aims to grow its membership, including local vendors, to strengthen its influence and support network in 2026.
Members who were unable to attend are encouraged to volunteer for the City working group, share their experiences with enforcement, and help expand the alliance’s reach and impact.
2025 - Growth and Progress for NBSTRA; Looking to a Positive 2026!
NBSTRA recently held its latest online members meeting to close out our first year and look ahead to 2026. Executive Director Jeff Flint walked members through where the alliance stands today – what’s been accomplished in our first year, how our relationship with the City of Newport Beach is evolving, and what priorities we should focus on together in the year ahead.
A major theme of the meeting was NBSTRA’s growing role as the organized voice of short-term rental owners and managers at City Hall. Through our lobbying team at Todd Priest and Associates, NBSTRA has now met with every member of the City Council, the new City Manager, and the staff responsible for STLP code enforcement. Those conversations have made two things clear: the City recognizes the nearly $10 million a year in TOT and related revenue generated by STRs, and it wants to work with a single, responsible industry group rather than chasing individual owners one at a time.
Out of that engagement came one of the most important developments of the year – NBSTRA is opening discussions with the City to establish a formal working group on the Short Term Lodging Permit (STLP) program. The City’s top concern is public safety and enforcement around major holiday weekends like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, when crowds, traffic, and complaints are more likely. The working group will give NBSTRA a regular, structured forum to talk with the City about how to manage those peak periods while also addressing issues like trash, parking, fair penalties, and practical code improvements that affect responsible operators every day.
Members also shared experiences with enforcement and appeals that highlighted why this partnership matters. Several owners and managers described interactions with the City that felt confusing, inconsistent, or overly punitive, especially when it came to violations, notices, and the appeals process. Rather than rely on anecdotes or social media impressions, NBSTRA plans to ask the City for hard data on complaints, citations, DACs, noise reports, and other enforcement actions so that both sides are working from the same facts. The alliance will also be seeking clearer, written guidance on key compliance areas – including what should and should not be taxed for TOT – so members can operate with confidence instead of guessing at changing interpretations.
The meeting also surfaced constructive ideas for practical improvements that can reduce friction with both the City and neighbors. One concept that drew strong support was some form of trash “concierge” service – whether through the City’s hauler or through a private arrangement among owners and managers – to ensure cans are put out and pulled back properly rather than left to guests. Paired with a continued emphasis on best practices, neighbor outreach, and clear instructions for visitors, members agreed that proactive steps like these can help prevent complaints before they reach City Hall.
Looking ahead, NBSTRA’s leadership wants to build on this foundation by growing the alliance and broadening who is at the table. Of the roughly 1,550 authorized STLP units in Newport Beach, NBSTRA estimates that about 900 are actively used and regularly renting – and the alliance currently represents approximately 200 of those permits through owners and/or their management companies. Increasing that share, and bringing in local vendors and businesses who benefit from STR guests, will strengthen our credibility with the City and give members more networking, information, and support.
We closed the meeting by thanking members for investing their time and resources to get NBSTRA off the ground in its first year, and Chairman/Founder Aaron Batley expressed optimism about a more proactive, positive 2026 built on collaboration rather than conflict.
If you were unable to attend but would like to volunteer for the working group, share your experience dealing with the City, or help grow the alliance, please watch for our follow-up email or reach out directly. The more voices we bring together, the stronger our position will be as we work with Newport Beach to keep STRs fair, safe, and welcome in the years ahead.