Moratorium offers time to review current rules and enforcement policies
CATHEDRAL CITY, CA. – [June 27, 2019] At their June 26th council meeting, the city council heard from a packed chamber from both sides of the short-term vacation rental (STVR) debate regarding their impact on neighborhoods and the city as a whole. One side discussed the extreme noise and nuisance coming from out of control guests at neighboring STVRs while the other side discussed that the majority of STVRs play by the rules and benefit the economy with jobs, structural and landscape improvements, and increased revenue for the city. Each side agreed that improved enforcement and issuing stiff fines were key to mitigating the negative effects.
After listening for more than an hour of testimony from the community, the council unanimously decided on a second vote to amend the initial urgency moratorium to allow for all pending STVR applications in the queue to continue to be processed for approval, but immediately halt any new STVR applications for at least 45 days. The council determined that this was the most fair position to take as it allowed STVR applications already in the processing queue to continue with their investments but stopped any new STVRs until the STVR Task Force had another opportunity to meet, discuss current policies, and determine any new rules and increased enforcement actions against those in violation of city ordinances. The only exception to the moratorium is for new applicants from properties that are located within a homeowners association (HOA) and the HOA explicitly allows and provides a letter in support of STVRs.
The STVR Task Force, made up of city staff, STVR homeowners, property managers, and neighbors of STVR properties will meet in mid-July to review the current situation, look at solutions found by other cities, and propose new guidelines and enforcement solutions to the city council.
In the meantime, current STVRs will continue to operate under current rules and the city will continue to process renewals of STVRs already in place. Any property owner that operates an unregistered STVR and violates the 45-day moratorium will face a fine of up to $5,000.
