A case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court could bring some clarity on using home-sharing platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway for both homeowners and local government, writes Caitlin McCabe for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The four-year-old case – “Slice of Life LLC vs. Hamilton Township Zoning Board” – originated in the Poconos. There, the owner of a 1,200-square-foot home was cited by neighbors for operating a short-term rental, allegedly in violation of local zoning code.

The case has since made its way from the zoning board in Hamilton Township to the state’s Supreme Court. It has already heard oral arguments in the case, and is expected to issue a ruling sometime next year.

The case has proven difficult, with a trial court siding with Hamilton Township and the Commonwealth Court backing the homeowner and his business, Slice of Life.

Lawyers across the state are hoping that once a final ruling is made, the decision will provide clarity to townships on how to regulate short-term rentals.

“Based on the Supreme Court’s ruling, many townships and boroughs may want to amend their zoning ordinance,” said Katherine Janocsko, a lawyer with Tucker Arensberg.

Read more about the court case in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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