Municipal Governance of Short-Term Rental Enforcement Technologies

Abstract

Background: Municipal Governance of Short-Term Rental Enforcement Technologies has become a practical governance concern because differences in institutional design and administrative capacity can shape how policy is applied in practice.

Objective: This study assessed the implementation of short-term rentals, focusing on consistency, institutional conditions, and outcomes in relation to enforcement technology.

Methods: Across 8 jurisdictions or institutional settings, legal and policy sources were combined with organizational evidence and, when available, key-informant material. Comparative coding focused on authority, coordination, transparency, safeguards, enforcement, and implementation capacity.

Results: Three recurring implementation patterns emerged for short-term rentals. Higher-performing settings combined explicit mandates, formal coordination, and accessible review arrangements; together, these features were associated with a 22% improvement in the composite implementation score. Fragmented responsibility, by contrast, was linked to delay and inconsistent enforcement.

Conclusion: The evidence on short-term rentals shows that policy design and administrative execution cannot be separated. Accordingly, effective platform oversight depends on translating regulatory duties into clear, monitorable, and consistently enforced procedures.

Study design: comparative city implementation study.

Publication history: Originally published in print on 15 June 2025, Volume 5, Article 11. Online abstract record added on 16 September 2026. Full-text PDF will be added when the digital galley is ready.