A moratorium on issuing new permits for converting homes into vacation rentals will remain in place, the Laguna Beach City Council decided Tuesday, Nov. 17, while staff continues to develop recommendations to revise regulations that currently forbid unpermitted home rentals of less than 31 days.
More fans of home-sharing services such as Airbnb turned out to express a variety of reasons to oppose an outright ban. Opponents of home-sharing were equally vocal, again arguing over the loss of quality of life in neighborhoods where absentee landlords hand over keys to weekend visitors and the dedication of rental housing to transient inhabitants.
Look for more details in Friday’s edition.
It is outrageous to even consider granting permission for short term rentals of private property in Laguna Beach zoned for residential use. Even condominium owners in destination cities like Scottsdale are not permitted to provide short term rentals of their property, and this rule is rigidly enforced. We have already heard and read the stories of loud early morning parties held by short term renters of property in residential areas of the town. Cars of non-residents zoom through quiet residential streets on their way to and from these parties. Is this desired by ordinary residents?? Laguna has a plenitude of hotels and motels to accommodate visitors. Nothing will ruin the peaceful charm and appeal of Laguna Beach more rapidly than this ceaseless emphasis on attracting more and more tourist dollars into the city.
Short term rentals are not just for vacations. I have rented to a victim of the Bluebird Canyon slide. Also to a neighbor whose house was undergoing repairs. Also to a gal who lived in a one bedroom house and whose parents came out to assist her when she had baby. Also to a LB resident who had a 2 week gap between when one lease ended and another (at their new residence) began. A ban would prohibit neighbors from renting to other neighbors who are LB residents and need assistance. Imagining that short term rentals are only used by out of town visitors is myopic. There should be an exception when you can provide verification that your short term rental is assisting another LB resident.