San Rafael, CA – Short term rentals will be the focus of a special Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting – both in-person and online – at 5 PM Thursday, January 11. A staff analysis and draft materials include details about a proposed countywide ordinance that would limit the number of short-term rental (STR) properties in unincorporated Marin, including additional limits in some Pacific Coast communities that are both residential villages and popular vacation destinations.
STRs are a form of guest accommodations that provide lodging opportunities in residential home units or portions of a home for 30 days or less. They are commonly booked using online platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. STRs accommodate visitors and can generate income for property owners and employment for businesses that serve visitors, but they can also displace long-term renters.
The Community Development Agency staff made a recommendation to the Planning Commission in November for STR regulations that include a countywide limit and a cap on the number of STRs allowed in each township, reflecting the number of STRs registered in recent years. The Planning Commission recommended directing STR activity toward specific locations over time, capping STRs at a considerably lower number in some areas and removing limits altogether in Dillon Beach and in the Seadrift portion of Stinson Beach; details are in the staff analysis.
At the January 11 meeting, the Board will review the Planning Commission’s recommendation and vote on whether to authorize staff to submit a Local Coastal Plan Amendment application to the California Coastal Commission for the STR regulations.
Public comment on the draft ordinance is welcome and in-person at the January 11 meeting. The meeting will take place in the Board chamber (Suite 330) of the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. Meeting details, including remote participation instructions, are available on the Board’s meeting archive webpage.
The updated draft ordinance is available on the County’s short term rentals webpage and the project-specific ordinance update webpage.
Rental operators with a valid business license and Transient Occupancy Tax certificate may operate short term rentals in accordance with the County’s standards. The Marin County Department of Finance has webpages for business license registration and for Transient Occupancy Tax certificate information. Lack of compliance may result in enforcement action, including citations or action to cease short term rental operations.
Learn more about the local short-term rental ordinance on the County’s website or by calling (415) 473-7173. Anyone may subscribe to receive emailed updates on the topic.
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For disability accommodations please call (415) 473-7173 (Voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail the Community Development Agency at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.