City extends temporary ban on some rentals

SAN LEANDRO >> The city has extended a temporary ban on some short-term rental housing at least until early next year.

The ban, originally adopted in July, is on “nonhosted” rentals, or the kind where a home is rented for 30 days or less and the resident is not present. The places are typically found on Airbnb or similar listing sites.

The City Council’s unanimous decision Tuesday to extend the 45-day moratorium comes ahead of a community forum on the rentals set for Sept. 24 at the San Leandro main library.

The council wants to gather public feedback as part of crafting an ordinance. The goal is to have the rules in place early next year.

“At this point, I suspect that collectively we will have a much better sense about the level of consensus and comfort (regarding what the ordinance should contain after the forum),” City Manager Jeff Kay told the council Tuesday. “It may be as simple as coming back for a vote, or it may be more complex than that.”

The ban does not affect people who may temporarily rent out a room in their homes.

“Are you sleeping in this home at the same time your guests are sleeping in it?” Planning Manager Andrew Mogensen said. “That’s my rule of thumb as to whether or not it’s hosted or nonhosted.”

Currently, the city’s municipal code requires anyone offering a short-term rental to obtain a business license and a transit occupancy registration certificate from the city’s finance department.

But the regulations are hard to enforce because short-term rentals are selfreported, and tax revenue is paid on the honor system, according to city officials.

The council adopted the moratorium after complaints from residents that guests at some rentals were causing parking, noise and other problems in their neighborhoods.

Mogensen said just six complaints were logged regarding short-term rentals since the moratorium took effect in July. Four led to investigations, and all involved a single owner, who plans to sell the property, according to the city.

About 75 short-term rentals in San Leandro were listed on Airbnb, HomeAway and similar websites during an informal survey done for a council workshop in November.

Councilman Pete Ballew said he supports having hosted short-term rentals in the city.

“I think it does offer a great deal of cultural experience and a chance for people to experience San Leandro a little bit differently,” Ballew said. “But I am also cognizant of the challenge that it puts on housing.”

Councilman Ed Hernandez said he hopes the ordinance that emerges will enjoy support from both backers and opponents of short-term rentals.

“I think there’s an opportunity here to ultimately, hopefully, craft a good neighbor policy,” Hernandez said.

Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter said the ordinance will need to address parking at the rentals.

“It does open up a huge kettle of fish,” she said. “I think we need to be able to look at other cities, have a little time to absorb and make sure we have time to hear from both community members that are for it and against it.”

The forum on short-term rentals will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Karp Room at the San Leandro main library, 300 Estudillo Ave..

Residents also can take an online survey on the rentals at www.sanleandro. org/oth.