Citing degradation of residential neighborhoods and a rental-market vacancy rate of 0.29 percent, Carpinteria councilmembers ratcheted up their opposition to short-term vacation homes on 10/26, voting unanimously to stop permitting any new vacation rentals while city staffers craft an ordinance to regulate the exponentially growing industry. The city’s Planning Commission will get an update on the ordinance in December before its return to council early next year. Councilmembers also endorsed SB 593, a statewide effort to regulate online platforms that manage vacation rentals. The city of 14,000 has 218 permitted vacation rentals — mostly near the beach — and at least 50 operating illegally.
