HB1445

House Bill 1445 aims to restrict the authority of local governments in Arkansas to regulate short-term rentals (STRs). The bill defines an STR as a residential property rented for 30 days or less and mandates that these properties be classified as residential for zoning purposes. It prohibits local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinances that effectively ban or limit the use of property as an STR. However, municipalities may still implement a registration system with a fee capped at $50 and enforce regulations that are consistent with those applied to all other residential properties. The bill also allows for limited suspensions of STR operation in cases of repeated code violations or specific instances involving serious harm or criminal activity on the premises. Additionally, the legislation explicitly prohibits local governments from regulating short-term rental marketplaces, such as online booking platforms.