How to participate in short-term rental advocacy for the first time

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Advocacy means using your voice in discussions on developing regulations and standards that shape the future of short-term rentals (STRs) in your community. Engaging in advocacy for the first time can be empowering and rewarding, but it also can be intimidating! This guide provides new and experienced advocates with essential tips to participate confidently and successfully.

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Join your local alliance

A powerful way to engage in advocacy is to join other hosts, managers, and industry professionals already doing it. Look for a short-term rental alliance to join in your area. If one doesn’t exist, consider starting your own! 

Joining an alliance allows you to advocate for the industry with a coordinated strategy and unified voice, amplifying impact through collective action. By teaming up, members can leverage their combined resources, expertise, knowledge, and networks to advocate for common goals more effectively.

Your alliance may already have an advocacy campaign and seek someone like you to fill a specific role. Tell them about any expertise, skills, or talents you offer and whether you would be interested in a leadership role.

This collective approach strengthens the position of individual hosts in discussions with decision-makers. It provides a sense of community and solidarity that can help boost your impact and motivation for advocacy.

Alliances may also provide an element of protection for your STR business through legal support if a questionable regulation is approved in your area, as well as education and training that helps to keep you in legal compliance.

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Familiarize yourself with the regulatory process

STR ordinances (laws) are typically made by local governments like city councils or county commissions, and regulations can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The process of creating an ordinance can be complex, with various methods used to introduce and finalize it.

City staff may work alone – or closely with a committee or task force – researching the topic, providing information, conducting surveys, soliciting public input, and drafting a proposed ordinance to present to the city council or county commission.

Before adoption as law, the ordinance will likely have multiple “votes” and iterations. These changes can come as the result of votes by either a task force, committee, or the city council/county commission.

The “final reading” of the ordinance determines its adoption as law, with some cities requiring the mayor's signature or veto power. Implementation and enforcement are often longer than the development process.

Public engagement is mandatory throughout the ordinance-making process, and each city and state has rules for public hearings, agendas, and notifications.

Check your local government’s website to learn more about its specific procedures and existing STR ordinances on the books. When in doubt, contact city staff for more information.

Once familiar with the regulatory process, consult your STR alliance to coordinate advocacy efforts during public engagement opportunities. Such opportunities can range from speaking during public hearings and writing letters to decision-makers to volunteering on an STR committee or task force.

For more on the policymaking process, check out Regulations 101: How STR laws are made inside the Rent Responsibly Network >

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Jump in!

There’s no better way to get involved in advocacy for the first time than to take a first step. For many, that’s participating in a public comment session. Here are some tips to get started:

• Comment procedures are usually published on the city's website 72 hours before the meeting. 
• If the meeting is online, ensure you have the right tech to access the meeting and speak on camera.
• Comments are usually limited to two to three minutes per person. However, when a topic has many speakers, you may be limited to 60 seconds.
• Before speaking, rehearse your remarks.
• To help your comments land effectively, keep a calm tone, be concise, back claims with data and reputable sources, and get a second set of eyes to review your statement before the meeting.
• Deliver your main points within the first minute, but expand if you have the time. As a rule of thumb, 130 words take about a minute to speak out loud.

For more speaking tips, check out the on-demand seminar From Nervous to Natural: Unleash Your Inner Speaker inside the Rent Responsibly Network >

Remember that advocacy is a journey – not a destination – in the ever-changing regulatory environment of STRs. By participating in advocacy, you can foster dialogue, influence decision-makers, and champion policies that support the responsible growth and sustainability of our space.

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For more advocacy advice, visit RentResponsibly.org.