Riverside County is now allowing travelers to stay in a short-term rental property without risking the violation of a local ordinance, officials announced Friday.
Short-term rentals are allowed in "private homes or condos where the host rents the entire home,” said Juan Perez, assistant CEO of the county's transportation land management agency. Hotels, motels and inns are not included in the allowance.
No events or gatherings are allowed at short-term rentals, Perez said, and only guests registered for the home should be on the premise. No shared spaces between the host and guest are allowed (for example, when someone rents just one room) and “strict cleaning protocols are to be followed,” Perez added.
Deep cleaning is required after each rental, as well as a 24-hour gap between stays.
"As we continue to see our economy gradually reopen, we want to continue to stress that we ask everyone — our business owners, our customers, employees, the general public — to follow safety protocols,” Perez said.
City rules can still supersede the county rule, Perez said.
During a Palm Springs City Council meeting, Mayor Geoff Kors on Friday afternoon informed fellow council members about the county's guidance and reminded residents that permits are required to legally operate short-term rentals. Given the city's rules concerning face coverings and physical distancing, Kors said "it's important that anyone who comes here knows that."
Riverside County is allowing vacation rentals to open back up at a time when the state's guidelines say such operations aren't permitted until California has progressed farther in its recovery roadmap. The state says leisure travel isn't permitted, and many places have specific orders that limit short-term rental stays to people who are traveling for essential purposes, or because they need to quarantine.
Although the state was abundantly clear that hotels were not to be opened until Stage 3, Perez said, the county conducted a legal review of the state’s orders, and “we feel that there is greater county discretion for short-term vacation rentals.”
“This practice now puts us in line with other counties,” he added, referencing an earlier decision made by neighboring San Bernardino County.
San Bernardino County officials last week allowed short-term vacation rentals to start operating again, ahead of Joshua Tree National Park's reopening. They anticipated of an influx of visitors who were weary from being cooped up during the coronavirus pandemic and would need a place to stay as they ventured to the park.
In Newport Beach, city officials approved vacation rentals for three-night stays or more starting May 20.
Most California counties are in an accelerated phase of Stage 2, which means retail and dining operations are allowed. But personal services and places where people gather in large groups, like nightclubs or libraries, remain closed. Hotels and lodging — or any "non-essential travel" — is not permitted in Stage 2, according to the state.
“This is another step forward in the reopening process and supports hospitality, a pillar of the Fourth District economy,” Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said in a statement. “Rental properties can be safe environments for guests to stay in while providing income to families.”
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May 30, 2020 at 06:20AM
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Coronavirus: Riverside County allowing short-term vacation rentals, officials announce - Desert Sun
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