Ventura is accepting new applications and renewals for short-term vacation rental permits.
Existing permit holders must renew their permits by Aug. 31 or the permits will be canceled, according to a city news release.
New applicants may apply beginning July 13 within designated geographic zones on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the release.
Approximately 120 renewal permits have been issued, said city spokesperson Jennifer Nance in a July 13 email. The city has designated specific geographic zones for the permits, and each zone has a maximum number of permits, she said. A total of 355 permits are available citywide.
The city guarantees existing permit holders the ability to renew under a grandfathering provision, provided they meet updated requirements and submit applications on time through Ventura Online Permit Services, according to the release.
A short-term vacation rental is a dwelling unit, other than one located in a hotel, that is rented to a tenant for no more than 30 consecutive days, according to the city’s website.
The Ventura City Council adopted an updated short-term vacation rental and homestays ordinance on Dec. 10, 2024, according to the city’s website.
On April 28, the City Council approved modifications suggested by the California Coastal Commission to the ordinance. The coastal commission finalized the ordinance on July 8 after the City Council’s April action, Nance said.
Ventura’s prior rules did not impose a limit on the number of permits issued, according to a Nov. 19, 2024, staff report.
The issue has been a topic of community concern and in 2016 and 2017, an increase in complaints from neighbors living near short-term rental properties prompted the city to hold two public meetings on the benefits and impacts of vacation rentals.
Changes to the ordinance include an increase in permit fees from $204 to $1,526, effective July 1.
Other changes include geographic permit zones with capacity limits, a maximum of two permits per owner and a maximum of one permit in the Pierpont area.
New parking requirements mandate free, unobstructed on-site parking that must remain continuously available to guests.
Homestays are now allowed, enabling property owners to rent individual rooms in their primary residences legally.
Accessory dwelling units, also known as ADUs or granny flats, cannot be used as short-term rentals under state law.
ADUs are secondary, self-contained living units located on the same property as a homeowner’s primary residence, Nance said. They typically include a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area with their own entrance and address. Under the city’s ordinance, ADUs may be rented for terms longer than 30 days and may not be used as short-term vacation rentals.
The city will actively enforce vacation rental permit regulations, according to the release.
Unpermitted rentals are subject to civil penalties of up to $1,500 for a first violation, $3,000 for a second violation and $5,000 for a third or subsequent violation within a 12-month period.
Code enforcement will respond to any concerns about unpermitted short-term vacation rentals, Nance said.
If an unpermitted property is eligible for a short-term vacation rental permit, the owner is required to submit an application, pass an inspection and pay permit fines before renting the property, she said.
If the property continues to be rented without the required permit, fees will accrue daily until the unpermitted activity ceases and the permit paperwork is submitted for processing, she said.
For more information, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/STVR.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Short-term rental rules, permits change in Ventura. What it means
Reporting by Wes Woods II, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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By Wes Woods II, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
