Vacay Stay

I am in favor of allowing short-term rentals in Santa Barbara County. If need be, a fair and simple short-term-rental ordinance could be crafted by the county. It is clear that TOT (transient occupancy tax) registration and payment should be required. I am for reasonable occupancy limits on each house, such as two renters per bedroom. I am for reasonable limits on the number of vehicles that can be parked at the property. However, I would like to note that whether a home is occupied by the property owners, is a long-term rental, or is a short-term rental, many regulations should apply equally. In all three cases, occupancy limits, vehicle parking limits, and noise limitations should all be equal in the regulations.

Why should owners be allowed to park a bunch of cars on the lawn? Why should long-term renters be allowed to fill each bedroom with three students? The point is, to be a good neighbor, it does not matter if the renters are long or short term, or if the occupants own the house, it matters that you follow common-sense good-neighbor courtesies. If these need to be written into regulations, then please make them apply to all.

There are many reasons to be in favor of short term rentals. TOT tax collection will greatly benefit county revenues. People vacationing in Santa Barbara County will spend tourist dollars here. The short-term-rental business creates new jobs in the county.