As short-term rentals through websites such as AirBnB and VRBO have grown in popularity throughout the country, so has local government opposition. Some argue that the practice changes the character of cities, and some say it changes rents.
Manhattan Beach added its name to the list of cities which have banned the practice, which includes its neighbor Santa Monica, in June.
The issue came before the council after the city’s Planning Commission approved a zoning amendment in May that would have allowed homeowners to rent their houses four times a year for 30 days or less.
Short-term rentals were already illegal under city code, according to City Attorney Quinn Barrow, with the exception of some rentals for the Charlie Saikley Six-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament. But the city’s finance office had mistakenly been issuing business permits to homeowners who rented their houses and paid a tax to the city.
On June 2, the issue filled the council’s chamber with people who wanted to speak on the issue.
“I am essentially living next door to a hotel right now,” said resident Heather Rezner, with “a revolving door of 20-plus people every few days.” Her neighbor’s house has “been used as a nightly rental for porn parties” in full view of her children, she said.
The majority of the other speakers were residents urging the council to take action. Many spoke against regulating the rentals in favor of eliminating them altogether, saying that enforcement would fall on neighbors.
“It makes me sad your citizens are put in a position where we have to go against each other,” said one resident who didn’t give her name.
“I can’t for the life of me understand why you would want to legalize something commercial in a residential community,” said another resident who also didn’t give her name. “I would recommend sticking with the current rule and enforcing it. I think if it’s a residential area, it should stay residential.”
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Burton agreed.
“I don’t think actually now permitting this use makes sense to me,” said Burton. “We should go in the other direction, ban it and remediate the problem.”
His colleagues agreed, voting unanimously to ban rentals of 30 days or less. They were sympathetic to the 58 homeowners who had already received permits to rent out their houses as of April 30, allowing them to continue renting until the end of the year.
The new ordinance required a second reading before it became law. At that reading on June 16, at which members of the public were again allowed to speak, the room was filled again, but this time largely with supporters of short-term rentals. It appeared that AirBnB had organized its renters to attend, with many wearing green stickers that read, “Protect home sharing.”
Every one of the approximately 100 seats in the council chambers was taken and an overflow crowd waited in the lobby. Almost 50 people spoke, including one man who was on vacation staying in a short term rental.
Multiple speakers said they relied on the income from rentals.
“I feel it should be left to me to do what I want with my property,” said a woman who wore a sticker and gave her name as Natalie. “It helped me pay the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation. Everybody knows Manhattan Beach is very expensive. Everybody does their best to make ends meet.”
Referring to the resident’s complaint about illicit activity at the June 2 meeting, the woman said that for her renters, “Porn parties are not on their agenda.”
“They’re mostly families,” she added.
Some speakers said residents’ complaints on issues such as noise stemmed from a lack of regulation. They suggested various limits, such as on the number of days a unit could be rented, and fees.
“Two- to three-day rentals are the problem,” said Robert Reyes, the owner of Sunny California Vacation Rentals. “People coming from the inner city, who want to party.”
Councilmember David Lesser had a change of heart from the last meeting, saying that he had since heard more from the community. He attempted to revive the zoning amendment approved by the planning commission.
“I want to give a chance from a property rights standpoint,” he said. “I think if we ban short term rentals outright, we’re going to drive them underground.”
However, some residents and councilmembers said that regulating the practice would be too difficult. The objection that policing would fall to residents was brought up again.
“Santa Monica, New York City are done with this,” said Jose Ramirez, a 30-year resident, referring to those cities’ bans. “It cannot be enforced except through neighbors’ complaints. That’s no quality of life.”
Some speakers warned that the city’s businesses would lose money under a ban. The majority of the council, including Councilmember Tony D’Errico, who owns two shops downtown, rejected this argument.
“I heard the argument that it could impact me,” said D’Errico. “I don’t care.”
Councilmember Amy Howorth countered Lesser’s argument about property rights, portraying the rentals as infringing on those rights.
“My property rights are sometimes imperiled because of the movement of my neighbors,” said Howorth. “If people are coming in and out — that’s a really different neighborhood than I moved into and paid money for. That’s why my house cost so much money: Because this is a tight community.”
With Lesser dissenting, the ordinance was read a second time and became law. ER
