IF YOU A HOMEOWNER IN UNINCORPORATED LOS ANGELES COUNTY WHO OPERATES AN AIRBNB-STYLE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

A restrictive Short-Term Rental Ordinance is coming your way. It will impact every homeowner in Unincorporated Los Angeles!  That means you Topanga (and 124 neighboring towns)!  Check here if you are part of Unincorporated LA and read the proposed ordinance to see how it specifically affects you (Proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance FAQ).

A few of the stricter measures include:

• You can only rent your primary residence. All accessory dwelling units will be prohibited, including guesthouses, recreation rooms, tents, yurts, trailers, grandma units.
• If you’re not physically in the same house as your guest during their stay (a “hosted stay”), you can only operate your Short-Term Rental for 90 days out of every year.
• There will be an annual registration fee of $914 and a 12% tax on all Short-Term Rental profits.
• Any violation of the Ordinance will result in fines of up to $1000/day.

 

YES, IT’S COMPLICATED.

The goal of this proposal is to increase the affordable housing stock of rentals and protect communities from being turned into Airbnb hotbeds with loud parties, limited street parking and a general disregard for community hospitality. 

HOWEVER, this Ordinance doesn’t cite any economic data to support that limiting Airbnb-style Short-Term Rentals will increase affordable housing stock, while there is evidence to support that restrictions like these will decrease property values in California (Bekkerman et al, 2021).

AND OF COURSE, we all want vibrant and friendly communities, but being able to monetize short term rentals on your property is a vital lifeline for many in our communities. As written this Ordinance could economically backfire and knock the knees out from homeowners in our community.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU WANT YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD?

FIRST: Sign the petition to say you do not support the adoption of the Proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance, as written.

• We want a visitor serving specific plan, that conforms the North Topanga area plan and the Coastal Topanga area plan, taking into account the unique geography and terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains.  One size does not fit all!
• We want more lenient restrictions by allowing you to rent additional legal houses on your property and by changing the definition of a “hosted stay,“ from the host having to be in the same physical structure as the guests to the host simply having to be on the property.
• We want an inclusive and transparent community debate on how best to regulate Airbnb-style Short-Term Rentals in Topanga and the other towns in Unincorporated Los Angeles County.
• We want an exacting study on the economic impacts restrictions like these will have on all homeowners in the county. 

SECOND: Write or call your Supervisor!  TOPANGA you are in the 3rd District.  If you're outside Topanga, find out what district you are in HERE!

1ST DISTRICT:

• Hilda L Solis
• 213 974 4111
• firstdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
• https://hildalsolis.org

2ND DISTRICT:

• Holly J. Mitchell
• 213 974 2222
• hollyjmitchell@bos.lacounty.gov
• https://mitchell.lacounty.gov

3RD DISTRICT:

• Lindsey Horvath
• 818 880 9416
• dvicente@bos.lacounty.gov
• https://lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov

4TH DISTRICT

• Janice Hahn
• 213 974 4444
• Fourthdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
• https://hahn.lacounty.gov

5TH DISTRICT

• Kathryn Barger
• 213 974 5555
• Kathryn@bos.lacounty.gov 
• https://kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov

THIRD: Spread the word!!! Sign the petition!!! Speak up and ask for town meetings!!! Contact me if you have any questions or ideas:

• Samantha Jacober
• 917 575 4180
• sjacober@gmail.com