Riverside County’s short-term rental law is weak, [Grand Jury] report says

An ordinance enacted to crack down on noise, trash, and other problems associated with short-term vacation rentals in unincorporated Riverside County is flawed, according to a new report.

The civil grand jury report suggests ways to bolster enforcement of rules to rein in short-term rentals that become neighborhood nuisances. A revised ordinance is in the works, although it’s not clear when it might come before the Board of Supervisors.

“Without serious enforcement efforts, the ordinance and its rules will become another lost opportunity for real change and leave the neighbors of the (rentals) with little leverage to preserve their community’s quality of life,” the 16-page report reads.

County spokeswoman Brooke Federico said via email that the county is reviewing the report, which was posted online this month, and will provide “a thorough response” by the legal deadline. By law, agencies that are the subjects of grand jury reports must respond, usually within 90 days.

In an email, Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, who has voiced concerns about short-term rentals, said his office has heard “from residents who are concerned with the bad actors in the rental industry” who ruin things “for those who just want a little extra income while respecting their neighbors.”

“We are reviewing the grand jury findings to see where their ideas can be incorporated in the new regulations,” he said.

The jury is a rotating group of citizens empaneled by a judge to examine public agencies’ inner workings, point out problems and recommend improvements. According to the report, the number of short-term rentals, often leased through online services like Airbnb, grew from 268 in 2016 — the year the board passed its ordinance — to 567 in 2020, a 111% increase.

Short-term rentals brought in $1.6 million in tax revenue last year, the report found. But that often comes at a cost for neighbors dealing with late-night partying, traffic, illegal parking, trash-strewn lawns and other problems.

Cities in Riverside County have taken their own steps to address short-term rental nuisances. Last October, Murrieta’s City Council voted to limit short-term rentals to larger estates and rural areas.

While the short-term rental ordinance for unincorporated areas like Temecula Valley Wine Country requires permits for rentals and a complaint hotline, unlike other Southern California counties, it doesn’t require on-site rental inspections, proof of insurance or agreements to hold the county harmless from rental-associated liabilities, the jury found.

Noise violations can carry a $100 fine, but code enforcement officials said the fine is too low to encourage compliance, according to the report. More code enforcement staff could lead to better enforcement of short-term rental rules, and fees for short-term rental permits and renewals should be increased to pay for that added enforcement, the jury recommended.

The revised ordinance, as currently written, “does not provide enough protection for, nor does it allow input from neighboring residences of Short Term Rental properties,” the report reads.

The jury recommended the revised ordinance include requirements for property inspections and an indemnification agreement to shield the county, among other provisions.

Code enforcement, planning, and the Sheriff’s Department must “collaboratively pursue a process … (to) adequately address noise complaints” and databases of short-term rental certificates and transient occupancy tax certificates should be reconciled to make sure the county isn’t missing out on any revenue, the jury concluded.

Riverside Press-Gazette
By JEFF HORSEMAN
June 19, 2021