Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Owners Suing Clark County, State Over “Unconstitutional” Laws, Ordinances
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association (GLVSTRA) filed a lawsuit earlier this month against both Clark County and the state of Nevada on behalf of property owners looking to offer their homes for rent via services such as Airbnb and Vrbo, alleging that laws and ordinances passed to regulate the industry are “unconstitutional.”
While legal experts are expecting the GLVSTRA lawsuit to most likely be unsuccessful, the organization is nonetheless proceeding with their case, originally filed on August 2.
The main point of the lawsuit is that the 2021 passage of Assembly Bill 363 by the legislature allowing short-term rentals in the state – and subsequent required local ordinances governing the industry passed by Clark County when the bill went into effect in July – are violating the rights of property owners, according to GLVSTRA co-founder Jacqueline Flores.
“Clark County has the most restrictive STR ordinance in the nation,” she said. “The lawsuit we filed was our last alternative because state and local officials just went too far to the point where their regulations require these homeowners to give up some of their Nevada and U.S. Constitutional protections in order to be allowed to operate.”
“And the regulations include some of the highest fines and punishments, of up to $10,000 and jail time, for simply renting for less than 31 (consecutive) days,” Flores added, who claimed that approximately 80 percent of homeowners within Clark County would be unable to operate rentals under the current restrictive rules.
Currently, Clark County is setting up a lottery process to grant licenses to a limited number of prospective short-term renters within its jurisdiction; however, Flores insists that property owners should be allowed to rent their homes out whenever and however they want – especially in light of the current economic woes plaguing the country – unfettered by local regulations or limitations.
Flores also argues that a healthy rental market improves the local economy, as renters will need to hire maids, cleaning services, handymen, landscapers, plumbers, contractors, and other individuals and companies that assist in maintaining rental properties.
Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.