Multiple North American Cities Strengthen Short-Term Rental Enforcement Amid Community Concerns

Various U.S. and Canadian municipalities are intensifying efforts to regulate short-term rentals due to concerns about illegal operations, neighborhood disruption, and housing affordability. Canmore, Alberta, now requires short-term rental owners to obtain business licenses to improve enforcement and emergency communication, despite some opposition citing increased bureaucracy and potential negative impacts on property values. Honolulu has adopted a novel approach by involving mortgage lenders to enforce compliance, warning that lenders could call loans due if properties violate short-term rental laws, alongside increasing liens to collect fines. In Annapolis, Maryland, the surge in short-term rentals, nearly double the national average, has prompted proposed legislation to limit new licenses and calls for moratoriums on rentals not owner-occupied to preserve community integrity. Severn Township residents have petitioned for licensing and regulations to address short-term rentals operating illegally in residential zones, seeking alignment with neighboring municipalities that already enforce such measures. Meanwhile, Montgomery, Alabama, city council members are pushing for crackdowns on platforms like Airbnb and PadSplit to prevent party homes and zoning violations, planning public discussions to address these challenges.