LOS ANGELES COUNTY – To address the potential negative impact on the quality of life of L.A. County residents, the Board of Supervisors has approved a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Sheila Kuehl that directs county departments to develop a short-term rental ordinance.
Data provided by Host Compliance shows there has been a 30 percent increase in short-term rental listings in the unincorporated areas of the county in the last year alone. Hosted by platform companies including Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway, this countywide explosion of short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas have generated fire and safety risks, complaints about loud parties, lack of adequate parking, and trash dumping. Additionally, the proliferation of unregulated short-term rentals has the potential to impact affordable housing stock by reducing the overall available number of rental units and, more specifically, the number of affordable rentals.
“The popularity and growth of short-term rentals pose both challenges and opportunities for the county,” Barger said. “Many cities have adopted regulations that strike a balance between the economic benefit of short-term rentals and the potential negative impacts to neighborhoods and quality of life for nearby residents.”
To illustrate the potential benefit of short-term rentals, a study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation found that short-term rentals through Airbnb generated more than $600 million of economic output in the City of Los Angeles during a recent one-year period. There is likely still an economic gain to unincorporated county communities as a result of short-term rentals.
County departments are directed to conduct robust outreach with stakeholders, town councils, and key affected communities on the proposed regulations. The departments will report back to the board quarterly on progress until a package of ordinances is completed and presented in 270 days.