Vacations Only

The use of homes as vacation rentals in Grover Beach, California may soon be regulated, which has never been part of the Municipal Code of the city. According to a report given by City Manager, Bob Perrault, to the City Council, many residents in late August of 2009 voiced concerns about homes being rented out as vacation homes in the area of North 14th Street and Brighton Avenue.

Bob Perrault has said, “Within our code, there is no specific designation for vacation rentals as a use.  We’re taking a look at what (Pismo Beach’s) ordinance provides to see what we can provide in our ordinance.” Bob also said that the city is looking into how San Luis Obispo County handles vacation home rentals in their unincorporated areas.

Many residents have expressed that vacation rental tenants have been distributing the neighborhood by causing problems such as excessive loud noise, unacceptable behavior, and with parking.  Residents want to know what the city is doing to regulate homes being used as vacation rentals.

According to city code in a subsequent review, there are no regulations concerning using vacation homes for a defined purpose.  City records of Grover Beach show that there are only 18 vacation rentals known to be within city limits. The 18 known vacation rental homes in the city are located in different zones areas including two in each in a planned commercial and high density, four in visitor serving, one in low density, and nine in medium density areas, according to Perrault.

Perrault explained that vacation homes are described as being used for a limited time only, which is usually no more than 30 days and the use of vacation home rentals is accountable to the city's transient occupancy tax requirements. Even though the 18 known vacation home rentals usually pay their transient occupancy tax, it is very likely that there are many homes rented out as vacation home rentals that officials are not aware of, said Perrault.

He continues saying that some vacation rental homes are owner-occupied that are occasionally rented  out and other homes are used just as vacation rentals.  He also expressed that when homes in a neighborhood are used for several purposes, it can often have many effects on the neighbors.

Although the homes used as vacation rentals in the North 14th street area have only received a few compliant, according to the Police Department, the City Council members agree that vacation home rental issues need to be addressed.

“The council authorized the staff to move the issue to the Planning Commission for further review and to develop a recommendation as to the type and level of regulation,” Perrault said.