I’m on vacation. I could have spent the night in a single-family home here in Ruidoso, New Mexico, rather than the Days Inn.
According to the local paper, the village council adopted an ordinance regulating nightly rentals after a judge ruled that this use was “residential.” The judge noted that the “business” aspects of nightly rentals–placing reservations and making payments–did not take place in the residences.
The new ordinance requires purchase of licenses, notice to neighbors, payment of lodging taxes, and placement of fire extinguishers in the homes. Violations can result in revocation of licenses after three complaints.
There are several hundred homes available for nightly rental in Ruidoso. The situation in the Branson and Table Rock Lake area is probably similar.
Ozarks Law & Economy 