News You Can Use – April 28, 2026 – TOP STORY: San Bernardino bans short-term rentals in residential areas after contentious 4-3 vote

Today’s roundup includes short-term rental news and policy developments from around the country that may be useful to Newport Beach STR owners, managers, and supporters. This week’s stories include new California restrictions, a Southern California coastal ordinance delay, moratoriums after safety incidents, permit caps, lottery systems, enforcement crackdowns, legal challenges, and several communities debating how to balance responsible STR operations with neighborhood concerns.

San Bernardino bans short-term rentals in residential areas after contentious 4-3 vote

San Bernardino City Council voted 4-3 to ban Airbnb- and Vrbo-style short-term rentals in residential areas after months of debate over whether to regulate or prohibit the use. According to the report, city staff identified roughly 108 STR listings, estimated potential annual transient occupancy tax revenue of up to $324,000, and reported five formal complaints over four years, but a council majority still moved toward prohibition rather than a regulatory framework.

This is the most important story for Newport Beach members because it is another California example of a city choosing a ban over regulation. It also shows how a relatively small number of documented complaints can still drive major policy action when concerns about enforcement, fire risk, parties, and neighborhood impacts dominate the public debate.

Sources: Inland Empire Community News

Santa Barbara delays STR ordinance decision over fire risks and housing concerns

Santa Barbara’s Ordinance Committee delayed action on a proposed STR ordinance after concluding the proposal was “not ready.” The discussion included concerns about high fire hazard areas, neighborhood character, housing impacts, complaint response, CEQA, property rights, and the role STRs play in generating transient occupancy tax revenue for city services.

For Newport Beach, this is a useful reminder that coastal California STR debates rarely involve just one issue. Fire safety, housing, neighborhood impacts, tourism access, legal defensibility, and city revenue all tend to become part of the same conversation. That makes early engagement and careful drafting especially important.

Sources: Edhat

Encinitas vacation rental regulation changes stall after Coastal Commission requirement

Encinitas reportedly paused proposed changes to its vacation rental regulations after a California Coastal Commission requirement involving minimum-night stays. The San Diego Union-Tribune article itself was not accessible in this environment, but article metadata indicates the council majority decided to stick with existing rules for now. City materials confirm the Coastal Commission approved Encinitas’ STR ordinance with modifications, including changing the non-hosted STR minimum stay from three nights to two nights.

This is highly relevant for NBSTRA because it involves a California coastal city, the Coastal Commission, and the tension between local STR rules and coastal access considerations. Newport Beach owners should watch these coastal-city cases closely because they often influence how other beach communities frame STR policy.

Sources: San Diego Union-Tribune

Birmingham pauses new STR licenses after violent shooting at Airbnb

Birmingham, Michigan approved a six-month pause on new short-term rental licenses after a shooting at an Airbnb property. CBS Detroit reported that the moratorium suspends licenses for 180 days while the planning commission develops ideas for better STR management. WXYZ reported that city leaders chose a temporary pause rather than a full ban, citing legal concerns, and that existing STRs are not affected.

This is another example of how one high-profile incident can rapidly change the political environment around STRs. The takeaway is not that responsible operators should be blamed for bad actors, but that strong guest screening, party prevention, local contact response, and documentation are essential to protecting the broader STR community.

Sources: WXYZ Detroit, CBS Detroit, Crain’s Detroit Business

Fair Haven considers lottery-style STR permits and hard caps

Fair Haven, New York is considering a proposed law that would cap un-hosted short-term rental permits at 34 villagewide, limit waterfront permits to 18, restrict owners to two permits, and use a lottery if applications exceed available permits. The proposal follows a 2025 law that allowed existing operators to continue while the village paused new permits to evaluate community impacts.

A lottery system is one of the more disruptive approaches in today’s roundup because it creates uncertainty for owners who may have invested in a property or business model. For NBSTRA members, this is a reminder that permit caps and allocation systems can become just as important as the question of whether STRs are technically “allowed.”

Sources: CNY Central, LocalSYR

Rock Hill wins federal appeals court case over STR restrictions

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a Rock Hill, South Carolina property owner who challenged the city’s short-term rental rules. According to WSOC-TV, Rock Hill first required STR permits in 2020, later restricted new STRs to certain commercially zoned areas, and gave existing nonconforming rentals five years to convert or stop operating. The court rejected the owner’s claims.

This legal development matters because it shows that some courts may uphold significant local restrictions when cities build a defensible regulatory record. It also reinforces why STR policy fights often need to be won in the political and public-comment process, not just after the fact in court.

Sources: WSOC-TV

Tisbury voters to consider eliminating 75-night STR cap

Tisbury voters on Martha’s Vineyard will consider eliminating the town’s 75-night limit on short-term rental units at town meeting. The proposal was advanced as a possible way to boost town revenue, though some officials have raised concerns about enforcement and potential neighborhood disruptions.

This is an unusual item because it moves in the direction of loosening a restriction rather than adding one. It shows that tourism communities are still wrestling with the revenue and visitor-accommodation side of STR policy, especially where local budgets are under pressure.

Sources: The Martha’s Vineyard Times

Saratoga County adopts countywide STR registry and tax framework

Saratoga County has adopted a countywide short-term rental registry under New York’s state framework. Separate local reporting says the new law requires STRs to register with the county before listing, lasts two years before renewal, and allows the county to collect occupancy and sales tax on behalf of municipalities.

This is part of a broader trend toward centralized STR registries and tax-collection systems. For Newport Beach owners and managers, the key point is that registration systems are rarely just paperwork — they often become the foundation for tax enforcement, platform data collection, inspections, and future regulation.

Sources: The Daily Gazette

Richardson considers 90-day pause on new STR registrations

Richardson, Texas is considering a 90-day pause on new STR registrations while the city collects data on registered and unregistered rentals, including their locations and proximity to each other. Existing registered STRs would continue operating, and the city would provide a 30-day grace period for existing operators to register before the pause begins.

Temporary moratoriums are often presented as neutral data-gathering tools, but they can become the first step toward more permanent restrictions. The Richardson case is worth watching because the city is explicitly using data collection to evaluate possible future limits on clustering and neighborhood impacts.

Sources: Community Impact

Berea adopts permits, spacing rules, and location restrictions

Berea, Ohio is imposing new STR permit requirements and location restrictions. Owners must obtain a $100 permit by August 31, post city rules for guests, and comply with new spacing rules beginning in September. STRs will be restricted within 1,000 feet of parks, schools, and churches, and cannot be within 500 feet of each other.

This is a strong example of how a permitting system can quickly expand into separation requirements and location-based limits. For responsible operators, the lesson is to engage early when cities first discuss permits, because the details often determine whether the rules are workable or functionally restrictive.

Sources: Cleveland 19 News

Gwinnett County approves licensing, inspections, and 24/7 local agent rule

Gwinnett County, Georgia has approved new rules for STRs in unincorporated areas, including an annual license, safety inspections, and a local agent available around the clock to handle complaints. Reporting indicates the county also plans to use licensing as the enforcement mechanism for suspensions or revocations after repeat violations.

This is another example of cities and counties moving toward operational accountability systems rather than simple registration. Newport Beach owners should treat local contact response, safety compliance, and documented guest rules as core operating standards, not afterthoughts.

Sources: WSB-TV

Southold cracks down on illegal rentals as new restrictions take shape

Southold, New York is stepping up enforcement against illegal rentals. The town code prohibits transient rentals of fewer than 14 consecutive nights, and the town attorney’s office plans to notify property owners lacking valid rental permits. Owners will have the option to apply for a permit or stop rental activity and remove listings from platforms.

This enforcement-focused story is relevant because it shows how local governments increasingly pair platform monitoring with direct notices to property owners. Even in communities where permitted rentals are allowed, unpermitted activity can create political pressure for tougher rules on everyone.

Sources: The Suffolk Times

Poughkeepsie owners push back against restrictive STR rules

Poughkeepsie property owners told the Common Council that current short-term rental rules are too restrictive and difficult to comply with. Several argued that STR income helps residents remain in their homes and that overly broad rules can penalize responsible local owners while doing little to solve broader housing affordability challenges.

This is a useful counterpoint to many enforcement-heavy stories. In many cities, STR policy affects ordinary homeowners who rely on rental income, not just investors or large operators. That distinction matters in Newport Beach, where policymakers should understand the difference between responsible permit holders and problem properties.

Sources: Mid Hudson News

Pullman continues review of STR rule changes

Pullman, Washington is continuing to review changes to its short-term rental rules. The linked Daily News article was not accessible in this environment, but other available summaries indicate the city’s Planning Commission has been revisiting STR regulations after concerns about complexity, safety standards, occupancy requirements, and how the rules affect owner-occupied rentals.

The Pullman debate is a reminder that cities sometimes come back to revise STR rules after operators point out that the first version is too complicated or burdensome. That is why ongoing engagement matters even after an ordinance is adopted.

Sources: Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Soldotna streamlines STR registration process

Soldotna, Alaska has approved changes intended to make its STR registration process easier to understand and administer. KDLL reported that the city created a single permitting process, removed a proposed guest cap, eliminated a $50 permit fee, and adopted limits on how many units in multi-unit buildings can be used as short-term rentals.

This is a good example of a more balanced regulatory update. The city still created rules, but it also responded to operator concerns and removed some burdens. That kind of compromise is often the most constructive path when cities are willing to listen.

Sources: KDLL

Pittsburgh opinion piece argues unregulated STRs hurt city revenue

A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette opinion column argues that unregulated short-term rentals are creating tax and enforcement problems for the city. The article was not fully accessible in this environment, so the details should be treated as limited to the headline and available article information.

Opinion pieces like this matter because they help shape the public narrative around STRs, especially when they frame the issue around tax fairness, housing, or neighborhood accountability. NBSTRA members should expect those themes to continue appearing in local debates around the country.

Sources: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Vermont legal challenge appears to be dismissed as premature

A legal blog post from Inverse Condemnation appears to discuss a challenge to a Vermont city’s STR limitations that had to wait until the city actually enforced the rule against the property owner. The site was blocked in this environment, so only the headline could be reviewed.

Even with that limitation, the basic legal point is worth noting: timing matters in legal challenges to STR rules. Owners often cannot challenge a restriction in the abstract; they may need a concrete enforcement action or other direct harm before a court will consider the claim.

Sources: Inverse Condemnation

Craig, Colorado eyes STR regulations

Craig City Council reportedly discussed possible short-term rental regulations as part of a broader meeting that also covered roads, sidewalks, and water restrictions. The linked article was not accessible in this environment, so the available detail is limited.

This appears to be an early-stage discussion rather than a final ordinance. It is another reminder that STR policy debates are no longer limited to coastal and resort communities — smaller cities are increasingly taking up the issue as well.

Sources: Craig Daily Press

Bowling Green looks into regulating short-term rentals

The Sentinel-Tribune reports that a city is looking into regulating short-term rentals. The article was not accessible in this environment, so details beyond the headline could not be verified.

This item appears to fit the broader national pattern: cities that previously had little or no STR-specific policy are beginning to explore permitting, registration, safety standards, or operating rules as STR activity becomes more visible.

Sources: Sentinel-Tribune

Adirondacks STR activity remains under scrutiny

The Daily Gazette link on Adirondack short-term rentals was not accessible in this environment. Based on the headline, the story appears to involve continued short-term rental activity in the Adirondacks, where STR regulation, tourism, and housing availability remain recurring policy issues.

Because the full article could not be reviewed, this item should be treated as a watch-list item rather than a detailed policy update.

Sources: The Daily Gazette

NBSTRA will continue monitoring short-term rental policy developments across the country and here in California. Our goal is to help responsible Newport Beach STR owners and managers stay informed, operate responsibly, and have a constructive voice in local policy discussions.

Questions or concerns about how these stories might impact Newport Beach STRs? Feel free to reach out — we’re here to help.

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