Newport Beach officials took the emergency step on Friday, April 4, of shutting down short-term rentals in town as they continue to urge visitors to stay away during the coronavirus pandemic.
The city previously closed off its boardwalks and beach parking lots, but opponents of the rentals argued the town should do more like other popular destinations such as Vermont and Florida, which enacted rental bans recently, to discourage people from flocking to the coast.
Short-term rental stays are allowed to provide overnight lodging to healthcare workers or emergency responders who have been called in to support healthcare needs in the region.
Several speakers who own and operate short-term rentals asked the council to let them keep operating, saying they’ve already been hit hard by cancellations and eliminating the short-term rentals further would devastate the local industry.
“All you’re doing is killing what’s left of a very struggling industry” one speaker said.
Another speaker wondered why short-term rentals would be prohibited, but hotels could still operate.
“We will flatten the curve by doing the right thing. I want to protect our business owners, but I want to protect the health and safety to our residents,” Councilwoman Joy Brenner said. “We don’t want to encourage people to come to Newport Beach during the pandemic period.”
A short-term rental is defined by the city as a lodging unit occupied for less than 30 consecutive days. According to city staff, there are 1,545 active permits for short-term lodging “which has resulted in renters living closely next to residents.”
Councilman Brad Avery said it’s the city’s job to keep residents safe.
“It lays on all of us to do all we can to send a message ‘Please stay home,’” he said. “Don’t come to Newport Beach. Take a month and give us a pass … this is not the time.”
Having the vacation rentals operating gives the message visitors are encouraged, he said. “That’s what we’ve been sending for generations. But this is an exceptional time. It can’t be business as usual.”
Renters now occupying short-term lodging will be allowed to remain for the duration of their rental agreements.
Violators will face a fine of $1,000 for the first violation, a year suspension of their short-term rental license for second and a revocation of their license for the third. The temporary ban will last until May 20, or until the city’s emergency order is lifted.
“We just have to bite the bullet,” Brenner said. “We’ve never experienced anything like this. We have to take measures. This is not business like usual. We have to take drastic measures. This is life and death. It’s our job to protect our residents, that’s our first job.”
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April 04, 2020 at 02:32AM
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Newport Beach puts ban on short-term rentals during coronavirus pandemic - OCRegister
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