Title
Short-term Rental Ordinance. Discussion of issues and alternatives for regulating short-term rentals.
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA
PLANNING BOARD
WORKSHOP
STAFF REPORT
ITEM NO: 5-A
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION: Short-term Rental Ordinance. Discussion of issues and alternatives for regulating short-term rentals.
GENERAL PLAN: Citywide
ZONING: Citywide
ENVIRONMENTAL
DETERMINATION: Exempt - A workshop discussion has no possibility of an effect on the physical environment.
PROJECT PLANNER: Steven Buckley, Planning Services Manager
Heather Coleman, Consultant
PUBLIC NOTICE: No notice is required for a workshop discussion; the agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City's website. Notice will be given more broadly when warranted.
EXHIBITS: 1. Staff Report for 2/10/25 Planning Board meeting
2. Meeting Minutes, 2/10/25 Planning Board meeting
3. Other Jurisdictions' Regulations
4. Sample Housing Safety Checklist
BACKGROUND
At the Planning Board meeting on February 10, 2025, staff introduced a plan to develop regulations for short-term rentals (STRs), i.e. the rental of rooms or entire homes for short periods, usually less than 30 days, also known as home sharing or vacation rentals. The staff report for that meeting (Exhibit A) describes the context and need for STR regulations, identifies key issues that the regulations need to address, and provides a preliminary project timeline.
Board members asked questions of staff, highlighted topics they would like more information on, and provided initial comments on key issues. Members of the public, including a number of local STR hosts, spoke at the meeting, describing the character and benefits of their STRs and advocating for being able to continue them.
The purpose of the current Planning Board workshop is to:
* Report back on staff's additional research;
* Expand the discussion of main issues and decision points for the STR ordinance;
* Provide a set of initial staff recommendations and alternatives ...
Click here for full text