The experience of homeowners in other parts of the state suggests there may be more to playing host than listing on Airbnb and similar sites.

The online sharing industry has taken off in Australia but has become a vexed issue for local councils in Sydney as they move to uphold planning laws designed to sustain neighbourhoods.

One council has moved to impose development contributions, threatened fines and required host properties to become bed and breakfasts.

Another council sought a court order to stop an owner from renting out their apartment for less than 90 days in response to complaints.

It's a far cry from Dubbo's experience to date, but in response to an inquiry from the Daily Liberal Dubbo City Council has indicated its position - and it's one homeowners looking to get on board Airbnb may want to note.

"So far we have received little to no direct inquiries from the public about Airbnb," council acting environmental services director Stephen Wallace said.

"If it's occurring, we would see it as a form of tourist visitor accommodation that requires consent."

He advised that motels, bed and breakfasts, serviced apartments and the like that might be listed on the site were approved for that use.

Mr Wallace did not rule out changes in the area in the future.

"It's a new and evolving specialist kind of use, occurring more in the metro and coastal areas and may in time mean our policies need to adapt as a result," he said.

"It's one the councils in those areas are grappling with more so, due to the pressures associated with the number of people choosing to use their homes as Airbnb.

"Our initial approach is that it (short-term holiday letting) would be considered as a use that needs consent.

"But from our perspective now it has not featured as a major issue."

Any changes may come from further afield.

A parliamentary inquiry into the adequacy of the regulation of short-term holiday letting in NSW is underway.

Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee chairman and East Hills MP Glenn Brookes said in October the inquiry was examining the impacts of current practices on the holiday accommodation market and whether aspects like customer safety, neighbourhood amenity and land use approval need to be addressed through better regulation.

"We need to make sure that any new regulation of short-term holiday letting delivers better outcomes for everyone involved, as well as ensuring that local economies continue to grow," he said then.

Airbnb's Australian general manager Sam McDonagh said in December it "proactively" encourages hosts to ensure they comply with relevant regulations, "but one of the things we consistently hear from councils themselves is that the rules are often hard to interpret and outdated".