Laguna Beach is moving closer to enacting a total ban on short-term rentals and on Tuesday extended a moratorium on granting new permits for another year.
In order to iron out details, the City Council didn’t act to impose a ban, but unanimously signaled their intent to draw up an ordinance to that effect.
The 50 or so local homeowners who have played by the rules and obtained city permits, which legally allowed paying visitors to stay in their home for less than a month, may be able to keep them, but the details have yet to be worked out.
But scores of available rentals in Laguna Beach on sites such as Airbnb and Vacation Rental by Owner websites show the extent of the scofflaws.
While such lodging remains popular with visitors, a backlash from residents complaining about an influx of uncivil weekend visitors has prompted towns to impose regulations. Both Santa Monica and San Diego have enacted stricter rules in recent weeks, both falling short of an outright ban and instead requiring hosts to remain on the premises when renting. Such a move is meant to discourage the conversion of homes in residential areas becoming quasi hotels.
See more details in Friday’s edition.
