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City Cast Las Vegas

. As always, our goal is to make sense of a complex topic.

🪴 Are Airbnb Rentals Legal in Las Vegas?

 all have their own guidelines for short-term rentals (or STRs) like those listed on Airbnb or Expedia’s Vrbo. Each one varies by jurisdiction, but hosts face license and insurance requirements, fees, required distance from other short-term rentals, and more rules — plus local taxes on top of federal taxes. In some cases, the owner must be available 24/7 to address any complaints or even be required to live on property — and how that’s interpreted can be up for debate.

There has been resistance from those who drive the local economy. Much like how 

, hotels don’t want Airbnbs around. Who needs the competition, right?

Nonetheless, Nevada Assembly Bill 363 was passed in 2021, requiring counties and cities to establish a process for short-term rentals to operate, effectively overturning a de facto ban on the business model in Clark County.

The county continued to drag its feet, prompting a lawsuit by the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association in 2023. The case was dismissed by the Nevada Supreme Court (but is still 

). In the meantime, Clark County came around and established regulations, although 

Las Vegas has a tourist-driven economy and short-term rentals provide an alternative to resorts. The business model allows locals to make money that would otherwise go to corporate hotel chains and not stay within the community for reinvestment. Some STR owners also argue that renting out their home (or part of it) has allowed them to weather tough economic times and afford their mortgage payments.

Enforcement is difficult. Meanwhile, out-of-state buyers see an opportunity to cash in on Vegas’ tourist market and buy properties strictly for short-term rental purposes — taking homes off the market that could've been bought or rented by local families who can’t match cash offers. 

Critics also argue that short-term rentals change the character of a neighborhood, creating a revolving door of transient residents who aren’t invested in the long-term care of their immediate surroundings. The noise and chaos 

living next to a potential “party house”

Rental agreements of 31 days and longer are not bound by short-term rental laws and regulations.

 in the local community with an in-depth analysis by 

It's been a difficult road for Airbnb, Vrbo, and other short-term rental services in Las Vegas. We break down the laws and regulations.

Is Airbnb Legal in Las Vegas?

Do Airbnb Rentals Make Sense for Las Vegas?

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

Like it or not, the Trump name will dominate the news in 2025 — and that includes the president-elect’s Las Vegas hotel namesake, which is back in the national spotlight this week. While police continue to investigate the motive linked to the Tesla Cybertruck explosion, let’s take a moment to reflect on the history and legacy of the Trump International Hotel tower.

 was built at a cost of $300 million on the former site of the New Frontier. The tower stands 645 feet tall and is 

 west of the Strip next to the Fashion Show mall. It operates as both a hotel and condo, making it the tallest residential building in Vegas. Some units are reserved as timeshares for 

The Trump International opened on the cusp of the Great Recession — March 31, 2008 to be exact — and condo sales suffered along with the rest of the economy. Plans for a second tower, touted during episodes of “The Apprentice,” never took shape, but the Trump International turned things around in a post-pandemic 

There’s no casino and no self-parking. Hotel guests must leave their car at the same valet where the Cybertruck exploded this week. The 7th floor rooftop pool is less-chaotic and crowded than ones at other Strip hotels. Little noise. No DJs. The retail options are limited to a lobby gift shop, which may or may not be stocked with MAGA gear.

 (named after you-know-who), that was actually 

 in 2009, the final year Las Vegas was recognized in the listings. Today, the steakhouse is less ambitious — solid, but standard hotel lobby fare — with 

. If $33 fish and chips and a $14 PB&J are in your budget, book a table now.

Donald Trump built his reputation in construction and continued to grow his fortune by licensing his name to other developers. The Vegas hotel is an equally split partnership between Trump and Phil Ruffin, who also owns and operates the Treasure Island and Circus Circus. The capital Trump spent personally on the project isn’t widely publicized, but the former and future president 

 as of 2024, earning tens of millions in revenue. Trump retained ownership of his private businesses upon becoming president in 2016, but 

When the hotel first opened, Donald Trump’s affection for “gold” decor was unavoidable. At times, it came off as yellowish and gaudy, but renovations have toned that look down over the years. The 1,282 rooms, including 352 suites, and 46 penthouses, are well-designed and geared toward a luxury crowd. Pets are welcome. Suites have kitchens. The views — and I say this without hyperbole — are among the best in town. The hotel is on the corner of a crook in Las Vegas Boulevard, giving the illusion that the hotel is on the Strip, rather than alongside it when facing south.

The Trump International Hotel is in the headlines this week for all the wrong reasons. Is it time for a second look at this property?

Who Owns the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas?

Does Donald Trump Really Own His Las Vegas Hotel?

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

If you thought 2024 was fun, get ready for all the cool stuff that’s coming to Las Vegas in the new year. No, you won’t get the A’s stadium, the Hard Rock’s guitar-shaped tower, or the 

) However, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of attractions, restaurants, and other fun stuff.

 is aiming to be a worthy extension to the successful 

 (based on your favorite scary movies) and the space-themed 

Goodbye Hawaiian Marketplace. Say hello to 

, a new shopping plaza that’s already taking shape with the opening of a towering Puma store. Yes, the future is retail, but at least we’re getting the 

. Further evidence that the future is retail: the Bellagio has 

 to turn its covered walkway near the fountains into a new retail and dining plaza. The south end of the Strip will also look a touch different when Mandalay Bay’s Delano tower is rebranded as the 

🏎️ The Wide World of Sports in Las Vegas

Your favorite new sport gets to shine on the Strip when the 

 comes to Mandalay Bay Feb. 16, featuring tennis pros like Vegas residents Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf trying their hand at a new racket. 

 — the biggest pro-wrestling event since Hulk Hogan dropped the big leg on Andre the Giant — takes over Allegiant Stadium for two days, April 19-20. The 

, a sports museum involving Raiders co-owner Tom Brady, opens at the Fontainebleau. And yes, 

 is returning to Vegas Nov. 19-22. Fans can also visit a new themed bar, the 

 inside the Forum Shops at Caesars, by the time next year’s race rolls around.

 as one of the best new restaurants of 2024 inside the Shops at Crystals, José Andrés gears up to move his signature 

 steakhouse from the Sahara to the Palazzo and open the Mediterranean-themed 

 by “Top Chef” winner Jeremy Ford at Resorts World, 

 for high-end Korean barbecue at the Venetian, 

 for modern Mexican at the Cosmopolitan, 

 for pizza and beer on stacked levels at the Grand Bazaar Shops, and a second 

 in Vegas at the Flamingo. And yes, the food hall trend will continue with 

Your favorite shows come to life in 2025 at the MGM Grand. 

, based on the ‘90s sitcom opens in the District, is full of fan-friendly photo moments, and 

 is a new restaurant based on the streaming giant’s hit shows, taking over the old Avenue Cafe space.

Plans are in the works to bring the official 

 to the Arts District by 2025, although the 

 won’t happen for a few more years. The opening of 

 burgers next to Velveteen Rabbit marks the first time something is moving to the Arts District from the Strip (and probably won’t be the last). Meanwhile, James Trees of Esther’s Kitchen is planning two new concepts, including a French bistro named 

. Fancy new residential buildings are in the works for 

Carolyn Goodman couldn’t help but gush about the future of Symphony Park during a 

Between new attractions, restaurants, and events, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for Las Vegas. 

New in Las Vegas in 2025

New Stuff Coming to Las Vegas in 2025

Find the best of everything that Las Vegas has to offer.

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

 was one of the first master-planned communities in Las Vegas and continues to be a rare waterside retreat in Southern Nevada. Developed 

, the desert oasis is nestled within two square miles between the borders of Sahara, Durango, Desert Inn, and Hualapai in the West Valley.

The community is best-known for Lake Sahara, a 30-acre, man-made body of water surrounded by homes. It’s common for those on the shoreline to have their own docks and boats. The lake is well-stocked with fish, ready to catch.

Originally, two lakes were planned — which is why the neighborhood was named 

 — but developers changed course and decided to stick with one. However, the entire community is a lush oasis with mature landscaping, parks, and tree-lined pathways for jogging and biking.

 at the Lakes, from condos under $300,000 to custom estates worth millions. Some parts are gated. Most single-family homes follow the desert Mediterranean style that flourished in the ‘80s and ‘90s, although it’s not unusual to see extensive interior renovations. Many properties enjoy large lots, including one 

Lake Town Center Plaza is the main shopping destination at The Lakes. Homeowners can even zip over on the water and dock their boats outside. 

 is a 24-hour restaurant and gaming parlor that’s been a community staple since 1987. You can also shop at a mini-market for groceries and choose between pizza and cheesesteaks at 

Not a lot of homes come with docks in Las Vegas. Learn about The Lakes and why it's one of the most unique communities in Southern Nevada. 

The Lakes in Las Vegas

Get to Know The Lakes

Everything to know about Las Vegas neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Las Vegas Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

The footprint on the sidewalk used to bother me.

It’s barely in the shape of a foot — more like a series of wrinkles within a soft oval — and the average person wouldn’t even notice its existence. But it always catches my eye, whenever I’m outside for a jog, taking out the trash, or continuing my ongoing 

The footprint is just off to the side of our driveway. My wife created it when she unknowingly stepped into what was still barely wet cement after checking on the progress of our home under construction. I assumed somebody would fix the blemish, but no one ever did.

Since then, we’ve watched the house slowly develop from an empty semi-corner lot by a wash to a wood frame and finally, a full Vegas-worthy home slathered in stucco. There’s something special about being the first people to call a house a home. It’s unmistakably ours with custom features determined by a limited budget and hard decisions on what to save for later. (Our kitchen cabinets went at least a year without handles.)

We’ve welcomed five doggies into the home and felt the heartbreak of saying goodbye to two. We’ve sipped wine by our backyard firepit and watched our Strip view (the “X factor” of choosing our lot) disappear behind the inevitable construction associated with Vegas growth.

Eventually, a new house breaks in, but it’s always a work in progress. The dishwasher needs to be replaced, a guest room still requires a deep clean after becoming a glorified storage closet, and my wife continues to push for curtains while I insist our windows have a more “modern” look. The battle continues.

At this point, the one thing I’d never change is the footprint on the sidewalk. My wife and I say we could live in this house forever, but eventually, somebody else will call it home. And when they do, I hope they feel the happiness, love, and comfort that truly built it. They can rip out the flooring, replace the cabinets, and do whatever they like to make the property “theirs,” but the footprint outside will always remain. Our official stamp of approval. The tattoo you can’t wash away.

My wife and I celebrate seven years of marriage on Monday, which happens to fall on Memorial Day. We’ll be thinking of those who sacrificed for our country, but also taking some time for ourselves to have a quiet dinner and hang out with the doggies in the house that we call home. 

Happy anniversary, Mary. The champagne is on ice 🥂

The Footprint on the Sidewalk

Celebrating the offbeat side of Las Vegas. Profiling the people, places, and things that make Vegas unique.

The Las Vegas Appreciation Index

The Appreciation Index

Cadence is redefining the modern Henderson lifestyle. Since opening nearly 10 years ago, the 2,200-acre master-planned community has grown to 24 neighborhoods with eight more to come this year. Everything is designed with walkability in mind, emphasizing parks, lakes, and walkways.

You really don’t need to leave Cadence if you don’t want to. Pick up groceries at Smith’s at the Cadence Village Center, which also has Great Clips, Cafe Rio, Starbucks, and other businesses. Wells Fargo, Broken Yolk, and EOS Fitness are planned as well.

The 50-acre Central Park is the heart of the community, featuring an adventure playground, picnic tables, amphitheaters, and impressive views of the Strip. But each individual neighborhood has at least one park of its own. A hundred-acre community sports park is on tap for 2025.

Cadence is extremely pet-friendly. How much so? The Cadence Animal Hospital opened before the ER at Cadence — an extension of Henderson Hospital that welcomes (human) patients later this year. The Dakota Dog Park has three play areas for canines of all sizes to run around.

Cadence is northeast of Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Parkway, making it centrally located for quick visits to the historic Water Street district, Lake Las Vegas, Galleria at Sunset, and Green Valley Ranch — as well as local faves like 

Guests are welcome to attend farmers markets, movies on the lawn, and other events — or snap photos of the street signs 

Cadence is a different kind of master-planned community in Henderson. You've got parks, shopping, dining, and even an animal hospital on property.

Things to Do in Cadence Henderson

Get to Know Cadence

The Arts District is continuing to boom with the pending arrival of 

. The four-acre site, which includes the already-built 

, will have two condo towers, one affiliated with Marriott. Developer Weina Zhang of Z Life Corporation discusses her plans for the project, which is already taking deposits with 1,000 units planned in the first phase and 2,000 more to follow.

Some stories are bigger than "three questions," so we bumped this one up to seven. 

“No nightclub, no sports bar, no gaming, no marijuana store. It's healthy living. The only restaurant, the Pepper Club (at the English Hotel), will close at 10:30 p.m. Then our cold-press juice and coffee shops will open at 6 a.m.”

It sounds very ambitious to have this ready by 2025.

“The first two towers will be completed by the summer of 2025. That sounds quick, but I built the English Hotel in eight months. We’ll do a floor-a-week construction. That's how we build. We’ll build this like we build casinos.”

What are some of the perks for residents at Midtown Plaza?

“Price. Historically, glass condo towers are for rich people. You need $2 million. Midtown Plaza starts at $360,000. One bedroom, one bath starts in the mid-$400s. If you are a bartender making $100,000 a year, you can afford this. 

“The HOA will cover your hallway, elevators, and repairs. That’s it. We have two pools, a gym, yoga, an office, co-working, 24-hour security, and flowers — and you don’t have to pay for it. That’s all financed by the retail component. We pay for that. The HOA fee is intentionally small: 25 cents a square foot.

“There will be one Tesla available for every five households. A studio has three hours per week for free. A one-bedroom unit has five hours per week for free. A two-bedroom has seven hours per week for free. Then you will have a daily rate and an hourly rate. Everything's built into an app.”

Is the idea to be as sustainable as possible?

“Correct. You’ll be able to bike or walk your dog to Symphony Park. We’re 100% electrical. No gas. Our appliances are LG — all electric.”

Is the City of Las Vegas going to work with you as far as development — building sidewalks and beautifying the area?

“The city’s been very supportive. They spent a lot of money already — $20 million on 3rd Street.”

What do you envision for the retail and dining component of Midtown? What's going to be on the ground floor?

“I have this micro-retail idea. You don’t need 1,000 square feet to open a boba tea shop. So retail will be 100 to 300 square feet. The reason is — you have all this outdoor area. Every business opens up on the street. If I charge $7 a square foot, that’s only $700. And we pay for all the trash, cleaning, security, and electricity.

We want small businesses here. They have to be filtered by me.”

“No chains. No Apple store, no Lululemon, no. The only exception is the Marriott brand. Everything else is for small, local businesses. We want to keep it Vegas-homegrown.”

Weina Zhang on Downtown Living and the Arrival of Midtown

What Las Vegas celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

housing

Do Airbnb Rentals Make Sense for Las Vegas?

Does Donald Trump Really Own His Las Vegas Hotel?

New Stuff Coming to Las Vegas in 2025

Latest articles

Do Airbnb Rentals Make Sense for Las Vegas?

Does Donald Trump Really Own His Las Vegas Hotel?

New Stuff Coming to Las Vegas in 2025

Get to Know The Lakes

The Footprint on the Sidewalk

Get to Know Cadence

Weina Zhang on Downtown Living and the Arrival of Midtown

Latest articles

Get to Know The Lakes

The Footprint on the Sidewalk

Get to Know Cadence

Weina Zhang on Downtown Living and the Arrival of Midtown