Whittier close to setting rules for short-term rentals
The Whittier City Council today will continue its work to establish guidelines and an ordinance for short-term residential rental units in the city.
Short-term rentals, such as those associated with popular company Airbnb, have made their way into Whittier. After considering comments from community members and looking at how surrounding cities operate, the City Council has taken steps to finalize guidelines for owners and renters.
There are still four regulations that could be included in the proposed guidelines, and the City Council will also be directing staff to draft a shortterm rental ordinance, among other decisions.
In late March, city staff provided a report to the council outlining three options for short-term rental regulations, according to the meeting agenda. The options included an outright ban on the rentals, allowing a certain number of rentals with a variety of regulations, and allowing them subject to code regulations.
The council asked staff to return with a hybrid of the second and third options, along with a list of possible regulations.
City staffers reviewed regulations from 13 cities and jurisdictions and spoke with residents and an Airbnb policy associate. In August, the 10 best practices were presented to the council.
The practices were split into two categories — options that had a yes/no response and options that needed a specific numerical or quantified response.
Yes/no responses dealt with implementing a business license and short-term rental permit, collection of a 10% transient occupancy tax, usage for events, creating a “good neighbor policy,” and requiring a minimum number of days per stay.
Restricting the number of short-term rentals within the city, occupancy and multifamily properties, and setting penalties, required a specific response from council members.
During the meeting Aug. 8, the City Council voted on six yes/no responses and asked staff to return with recommendations for the final three specific responses.
Now, applicants who wish to operate a rental property will be required to obtain a city business license and a short-term rental permit valid for six months, and to collect 10% transient occupancy tax from every shortterm rental. The council also prohibited the use of rentals for events, such as receptions and parties.
The council also agreed that a good neighbor policy would be beneficial to hand out to property owners for distribution to their tenants.
City staff created a draft version of the handout, which includes tips on how to stay in compliance with local rules and regulations, after considering the most common complaints the city gets about short-term rentals. Guidelines include when the designated trash collection day is, returning trash and recycling bins to their designated location, parking on the property, and complying with the noise ordinance, among others.
City staff recommendations for the final rental regulations include:
• Setting a cap on the number of short-term rentals throughout the city and a separation requirement between each one — such as a buffer of 500 or 1,000 feet — and distance requirements.
• Allowing studio units a maximum of two guests, and for units with bedrooms, a maximum of two guests per bedroom plus 2 additional. Cities such as Buena Park, Long Beach and Pasadena limit the number of guests based on the number of rooms in the unit.
• A maximum percentage of units that can be rented out for properties with two or more units would not override the distance requirement but would work in tandem if the council chose to do so.