Wave of Lawsuits Emerge as Short-Term Rental Owners Battle Regulations

Regulators have been going after short-term rentals. Now homeowners are fighting back.

A group of 89 property owners in Summit County, Colorado filed a federal lawsuit, alleging that strict restrictions on short-term rentals infringe upon their constitutional rights and jeopardize their livelihoods. The homeowners in Summit County Resort Homes argue that the new regulations create disparities between "short-term rental haves and have-nots," meaning those who rely on income from short-term rentals and homeowners who don't. They allege that the regulations reflect the county's unwarranted bias against such rentals. They claim that these restrictions violate their fundamental rights to property ownership and rental.

County commissioners were informed about the possibility of litigation in April, and the county attorney expressed confidence in successfully defending against any legal challenges. Summit County had implemented changes, including transitio