San Rafael, CA –The County of Marin is proposing a second and updated short-term rental ordinance intended to provide a local contact person for neighbors to call if there are problems with a short-term rental. The proposed ordinance is unrelated to the current restrictions placed on short-term rentals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The existing ordinance, adopted in August 2018, is due to expire in August 2020. A first reading of the new proposed ordinance is to be heard by the Marin County Board of Supervisors on July 14, followed by a merit hearing and a possible vote on July 28. If adopted, the new ordinance would not have an expiration date and will be permanently added to the Marin County Code.
Short-term rentals, often arranged through online companies such as Airbnb and VRBO, have been popular places for visitors to stay in Marin under normal public health circumstances. Neighbors have said vacationers sometimes create problems for the year-around residents regarding noise, trash, and parking.
The 2018 ordinance required that there be a local contact person designated for a short-term rental and that neighbors be notified of that person’s contact information as well as a hotline number and web link for complaints. Renters must also be provided with “good neighbor” house rules.
The main components of the existing ordinance will remain in place under the proposed new ordinance, authored by the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA). Minor refinements are proposed to require the local contact person’s information be provided at the time the application for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate and when reporting TOT rather than at the time a business license is issued or renewed.
Learn more about the local short-term rental ordinance on the County’s website.
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