Airbnb rules just changed

The Anchorage Assembly voted down a proposal that would have added a 5 percent tax to short term rental stays, including Airbnbs and other vacation rentals, stacking on top of the city's existing bed tax. The tax revenue had been pitched as new funding for housing programs.

Several assembly members said the city currently lacks clear data on how many short term rentals operate in Anchorage or how much revenue the proposed tax would actually generate, a gap that led to the measure's defeat before it could reach voters.

Instead, the Assembly approved a mandatory registration system. Starting next year, every short term rental in Anchorage will be required to register with the city. The goal is to determine where these rentals are located, how many exist, and how they affect the local housing market.

Short term rentals remain a contentious issue in areas like Girdwood, where residents say vacation rental properties are reducing the supply of year round housing. The registration requirement moves forward even though the tax proposal failed, meaning short term rental hosts avoid a new tax for now but face new reporting requirements ahead.