Hawaii to Implement Extra Laws on Brief-term Leases

Hawaii is imposing extra rules on short-term leases, permitting every county to set their very own guidelines in terms of these houses.

The legislation, Senate Invoice 2919, was signed by Gov. Josh Inexperienced on Friday and permits counties to make sure short-term trip leases usually are not allowed in areas the local people doesn’t need them. The legislation comes after devastating wildfires swept by way of Maui final 12 months, which intensified the necessity for housing.

“As we press ahead with our ongoing wildfire response and restoration efforts, SB 2919 will likely be a pivotal software to handle Hawaiʻi’s housing disaster, whereas guaranteeing our important housing applications for Maui restoration stay strong,” Gov. Inexperienced mentioned in an announcement. “Our dedication to maximizing housing availability on Maui and statewide persists, and the state continues to increase help to authorized house owners who contribute to Maui wildfire reduction efforts.”

With the brand new legislation, counties can “management the time, place, method, and period of land makes use of, significantly [with] transient lodging together with short-term leases,” in accordance with the governor’s workplace. Counties in Hawaii will now be allowed to tax and regulate short-term leases similar to motels and designate them as a non-residential use for zoning functions, or limit them altogether, in accordance with the American Resort and Lodging Affiliation (AHLA).

“For too lengthy, unlawful short-term leases have encroached into residential neighborhoods and put homeownership out of attain for hard-working households, together with the 1000’s of Hawai‘i residents who work in motels,” AHLA Interim President and CEO Kevin Carey mentioned in an announcement. “AHLA has labored hand-in-hand with neighborhood companions and the federal government to help [common sense] regulation that ensures resort workers and all residents can afford to reside the place they work, and this essential legislation will assist obtain that consequence.” 

Already, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen introduced plans to get rid of about 7,000 trip leases, together with 2,200 in West Maui, Hawaii Information Now reported. 

Hawaii isn’t the one vacation spot seeking to crack down on short-term trip leases. New York Metropolis, for instance, imposed new guidelines on these rental houses final 12 months, requiring hosts to register their listings with the Mayor’s Workplace of Particular Enforcement and requiring reserving platforms to ban unregistered listings.