The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday could pass a short-term rental ordinance regulating Airbnb-type rentals – in Contra Costa’s case, its first such ordinance governing such rentals.
The proposed ordinance would regulate the renting of residential dwelling units for periods of 30 consecutive days or less. A “responsible party,” at least 18 years old and living within a 30-mile radius of the
rental property, would have to be identified. That person must be 18 years old or older, reside within a 30-mile radius of the short-term rental, and be available by telephone for the duration of any rental period to respond to
neighbors’ complaints or law enforcement concerns about activity at the short-term rental.
Owners of short-term rental units would have to get permits from the county’s Department of Conservation and Development. Staff recommends that talks continue with Airbnb and other rental platforms on a voluntary collection agreement to collect transient occupancy taxes, and work with the county’s tax collector’s office to establish a TOT collection process.
In addition to creating a mechanism to collect those transient occupancy taxes, this ordinance is designed to help county officials provide at least a measure of control over what happens at these rental units, and avoid the kind of disaster that rocked Orinda, when on Halloween night five people were shot and killed at a party. The house was known as a party house, and was an Airbnb-listed rental property with owners who didn’t live in the area.
21 comments
I don’t get the 30 mile thing. Most people that would want to occupy a short term rental would more than likely be from outside the area and coming for vacation or business purposes. I think anyone within 30 miles would be more likely to be renting for a party or other nefarious reasons. What am I missing here? I did stop reading when I saw the words “collect taxes”. The real reason they’re considering the ordinance.
The OWNER has to live within 30 mile radius, not the renter. What are you missing? Reading comprehension.
MoJo…it is the owner that must either live or have another responsible available within 30 miles of the property…not the renter.
They are trying to control the issue of far distant absentee landlords on these Air BNB properties.
Got it! Thought the term “responsible party” was referring to the renter of the property, not the owner or landlord. Senior moment!
Air bnb is just a way around the regulations that govern the hospitality industry ( hotels, motels, inns, etc). The renters don’t have to meet any guidelines or rules and regulations regarding public safety, zoning ordinances, and renter protection. The same applies to lyft and uber. They dodge all the rules and regulations for the taxi and chauffeuring companies. These johnny come lately businesses should be banned, not encouraged.
Clapping! Thank you! Exactly. While there are many responsible landlords of AirBNB, VRBO, etc. properties, there are too many that are irresponsible. Besides driving up rents, it becomes a quality of life issue for families that live near one of these short term rentals.
Airbnb is the only way a lot of people can afford to stay somewhere while traveling. Hotels are disgusting and/or way too expensive. Airbnb’s often can be a private area so it’s nice to have your own space and not have to worry the person next to you is going to have loud sex all night or keep their tv on till 3am.
I have never had a bad experience with airbnb and I have used them many many times on our trips overseas.
Key word “Permits”.
They smell the money.
I bet the neighbors of the Orinda Party house would love to see permits required as would most of us in this county! Our neighborhood has an Air BNB property and every time there is an event at the Pavilion the police have to be called. Sorry, I applaud the supervisors on this one.
@GoCoCO
Do you think owners/renters are going to fear fines from the city/county?
They will ignore it… City applies for a lien, which can’t be collected until property is sold.
Just ask anyone who has had to deal with slum lord property owners next door.
transient occupancy taxes???? that’s what this is about. How much control do the powers that be need? This is too much? we should be able to rent out our houses anyway we want. They belong to US not to government. Why do we let them do these things to us?
People shouldn’t be making hotels out of their multiple properties while people are struggling to be able to find a place for their family to live.
Yeah if you own one home it should be yours and yours alone to do with as you please, but once too much of the market is owned by too few (as is now the case), we need someone defending the market place for those that need a place to sleep between work shifts that live locally
I get the feeling the county is more concerned with increasing tax revenue than anything else.
Ha.
Mike is right. Its all about money
Isn’t it all about the money to the landlord, also?
Anyone know a landlord who just likes to rent out their property for free?
It’s always about the benjamins.
Does anyone know if a person selling a property is suppose to disclose if the neighborhood has Airbnb’s?
It seems to me that you have to disclose everything you know about. At least that’s what my realtor said. He asked me a few times in a few different ways if there was anything I could think of regarding the house or the neighborhood, anything at all, then he decided what was relevant. A neighbor’s quiet Airbnb in her extra bedroom down the street at the other end of the block never occurred to me though. Maybe a realtor could chime in and answer this better than me.
I’m not a realtor, but I don’t see how there is any way they could enforce having to disclose if a neighbor rents out through Airbnb. All you’d have to say is you weren’t aware if it.
I’ve never disclosed anything regarding my neighbors when selling a home, nor would I. It’s my house on the market, not my neighbors. All I’ve ever been asked about is my own property for sale.
They should just require devices, like https://noiseaware.io/
That would pretty much solve the problem BEFORE it starts.
Some city ordinances already require it.
Very good indeed. Puts some guidelines around this process and it’s better to collect taxes from people that want to rent.
So if rental is for 31 consecutive days ? ? ? ?
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