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As a host of Orange County cities are taking a stance against short-term rentals – also known as AirBnB – Santa Ana is eyeing more crackdowns on landlords wanting to rent out their properties that housing advocates argue are severely impacting the housing market.
Now, city officials are doubling down on outlawing short-term rentals amid a statewide housing crisis.
Earlier this year, Santa Ana City Council members adopted an emergency ordinance to ban short-term rentals in the city following noise complaints and parking concerns from residents and local stakeholders.
[Read: Santa Ana Bans Short-Term Rentals]
The move in Santa Ana is part of a larger trend in Orange County as cities like Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove and Irvine have also placed bans on short-term rentals.
Meanwhile, cities like Fullerton, Newport Beach and Orange have regulations, caps or permits that allow for AirBnB.
Santa Ana city officials are set to vote on an ordinance reaffirming their opposition to short-term rentals operating in the city on Tuesday night.
Despite city council members unanimously voting in favor of a ban back in April, Santa Ana has been unable to fully enforce their ordinance after a lawsuit was filed against the city alleging the law violated CEQA guidelines, according to a city staff report.
Since then, Minh Thai, director of planning and building, said at the Nov. 19 meeting that the city has addressed issues from the initial ordinance, recommending to readopt the city’s ban.
In Santa Ana, short-term rentals have long been prohibited, but this year’s ordinance is to further clarify their position.
Some city council members voiced their concerns of outright banning short-term rentals, arguing that Santa Ana could benefit from another tax revenue source.
“I would at some point like [city] staff to come back with some potential alternatives,” said Councilman Phil Bacerra at the Nov. 19 city council meeting, adding he supports crack downs on short-term rentals until then.
Not everyone was willing to ban short-term rentals entirely.
Mayor Valerie Amezcua said at the same meeting that she’d prefer the city look into making new regulations so that short-term rentals can “generate some revenue for our city.”
Based on a city staff report, the city projects there are more than 700 short-term rental units operating within Santa Ana, which “represent about 22% of the city’s housing needs” under the California Regional Housing Needs Allocation that calls for 3,137 permanent homes.
Those opposed to the city’s ban have urged Santa Ana city leaders to consider new regulations on AirBnB and other landlords renting out their properties, arguing the city could use the tax revenue.
But some residents, like Ana Gomez, a Santa Ana homeowner and short-term rental host, said she rents out a room in the house she lives in “to make ends meet” and that there should be exceptions versus an outright ban.
But proponents of the ban – which include members Unite Here 11, a union made up of airport, hotel and restaurant workers – argue that short-term rentals have increased the cost of living in Santa Ana, pushing out longtime residents and their families.
“If short-term rentals are allowed to expand, more workers and families risk being priced out of Santa Ana,” said Estefany Castañeda, a community organizer for Unite Here 11.
“The City Council made the right decision to enact this ordinance before and I urge you to stand by that decision.”
Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.
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