LA loosens short-term rental rules to support fire victims

County officials approved a new set of rules in effect until May 2026 to help short-term rental hosts house residents displaced by recent wildfires.  

Los Angeles has drawn up a more lenient set of rules for short-term rental hosts who open their doors to victims of the wildfires that have displaced thousands of residents over the last month. 

The move represents a possible blueprint for local governments across the country to loosen regulations as necessary to increase the availability of short-term rentals for residents displaced by natural disasters. 

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution that protects hosts in unincorporated areas if they are renting out to unauthorized occupants or pets displaced as a result of the fires.  

The resolution specifically allows short-term rental hosts to list more than one STR, or list a single room or vacation rental as an STR, and to offer an unlimited stay that exceeds the current 90-night cap on STRs.

The new rules apply only to hosting fire victims and will be in effect until May 31, 2026.

“We must act with urgency to protect and support those displaced — and the Angelenos supporting them — from the threat of eviction,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath said. “This motion ensures that displaced residents have immediate access to housing, while safeguarding tenants who open their homes to others in need. We are taking essential steps to provide a foundation for the long-term recovery of impacted residents and to stabilize our communities.”

New and Proposed Regulations:

• Aspen, Colorado: Officials in the county home to the popular ski town Aspen are reducing fees for short-term rentals in response to a decline in STR license applications. (link) 
• Lexington, Kentucky: After months of debate, local officials have approved new regulations, effective immediately, on short-term rentals in Kentucky’s second-largest county. (link)

Other Noteworthy News:

• $180K feud: Airbnb hosts face a litany of possible legal challenges. But one property owner in Las Vegas is suing a long-term renter for allegedly operating an illegal short-term rental out of his property and racking up over $180,000 in fines for violating city rules. (link) 
• Tenants rally: Hundreds of locals protested New York’s proposal to loosen regulations on short-term rentals arguing the legislation could take thousands of units of long-term housing off the markets. (link) 
• Kosher Airbnb: A new app known as Kvation has launched for renters who need a short-term stay with a Kosher kitchen. (link)