To: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
The undersigned residents of Mendocino County ask the Board of Supervisors to immediately create a Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance that preserves long-term housing by licensing and limiting STRs.
The ordinance should not limit the number of Primary-Residence STR licenses because renting out rooms, or one’s home for finite periods, does not affect housing availability.
The ordinance should restrict the number of licenses for STRs owned by individuals that do not reside full-time on the property. These STRs should not be licensed when they are more than 2% of area housing; when below the 2% threshold, more may be licensed.
Existing STRs in good standing may remain operational but must become licensed. All licenses should be non-transferrable and expire upon sale or transfer of the property to gradually return houses to long-term housing and improve availability over time.
We urge the Board of Supervisors to approve a Short-Term Rental Ordinance before the end of 2022.