California Coastal Commission approves Monterey County short term rental amendment

Monterey County is one step closer to implementing new regulations for short term rentals along the coast after The California Coastal Commission voted to approve the county's amendment last week.

New regulations that hosts like Lowell Strauss have concerns about.

"These people that have been coming to the county to enjoy the coast are not going to come to Monterey County anymore, you know," Strauss said. "They may end up not coming to California anymore if we do this all over the coast."

The amendment is a plan that aims to cap the amount of commercial short term rentals along the coast and eliminate commercial vacation rentals in Big Sur and Carmel Highlands.

"It was a big hurdle in getting forward and it was a lot of time and energy put in by a lot of people our community, our staff, our board," Craig Spencer, the director of housing and community development, said.

While it was a win for the county, it was a loss for some who rent property on the coast, like Lowell, who is worried for himself and other hosts in Big Sur that will not be able to commercially rent anymore.

"It's just a terrible thing," Strauss said. "You know, (Big Sur renters) are going to be forced to sell their homes."

The discourse surrounding short term rentals along the coast has been going on for years. 

There are different types of rentals and the main one discussed is what's called a "commercial STR."

"It's not hosted. No one lives there, but it's and it's rented as many times as they can rent it within a year," Spencer said.

Those pushing restrictions site overcrowding in their neighborhood, overflowing septic tanks, not being respectful and more. 

Hosts of these rentals are denying these claims, most of them saying they rent to repeat customers.

They say restrictions gravely impact how they make their livelihood.

"When we bought the house, you know, it was over ten years ago, you know, it was an expensive investment for us," Strauss said. "We could never afford to buy a home at this point. They're very expensive."

The county claims it is trying to find a middle ground.  

"We're balancing the ability to invite people to come and stay here with the protection of residential neighborhoods and homes and character and housing in general," Spencer said.

The county said future modifications can be made.

"While there will be future opportunities for the county to refine and modify this ordinance, the formal certification of our ordinance by the coastal commission is a milestone that must be recognized and celebrated," Kate Daniels, Monterey County district five supervisor, said in a statement to KION.

The county said the amendment is expected to come back to the board for its final adoption at the end of September. 

If adopted, regulations would become effective roughly a month later, if the CCC does not have any extra steps for the county to follow.