At its Oct 4 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors held off approving a revised Ordinance 927.1 (Regulating Short Term Rentals [STRs]) and Ordinance 671.22 (Consolidated fees for land use).

The board did approve a new Ordinance 927.1 at its Sept. 13 meeting, but the supervisors also asked for several changes that are included in this version of the ordinance, as well as at the Oct. 4 meeting. The board will reconsider the ordinance at its Oct. 18 meeting.

The definition of an STR, specified in Section 4(q), now includes accessory dwelling units (ADU), such as a junior ADU, a second unit, guest quarter or ranchet unit not otherwise prohibited by state law.

The revision also deletes language in Section 7(a) (8) so that the ordinance clearly states the county determines the maximum number of occupants per dwelling rather than the State Building Standard codes.

Then section 8(g) now has the maximum occupancy language to which the board agreed last month. An STR occupancy will be limited to one person per 200 square feet.

For properties on 1/2 acre or less, the maximum will be 10 occupants. For STRs on lots between 1/2 and 2 acres, the maximum visitors may be 16. On properties larger than 2 acres, the maximum occupants may be 20.

However, STRs on lots greater than 1/2 acre must still comply with the preapproved list of upgrades in order to obtain an occupancy limit greater than 10. The checklist now states that a fire sprinkler system is recommended and not required.

STRs on 5 acres and 600 feet from adjacent properties will not be required to notify neighbors.

Any further changes to the pre-approved list of upgrades will require the executive office’s review and approval before becoming effective.

The revised fee ordinance increases the cost of obtaining a STR certificate to $740 from $250 currently. A certificate renewal fee will be $540 up from the current $100 fee.

The new Ordinance 927.1 will be effective in 30 days, Nov. 3. The 45-day moratorium on new STR certificates, approved at the Sept. 13 meeting, does not change. It will expire on Oct. 18 but will be extended. The moratorium applies to the Idyllwild area, including Pine Cove and Mountain Center, and the Temecula Valley Wine Country. The moratorium would not prohibit the operation of STRs that already have a county STR certificate.

The revised Fee Ordinance 671.22 will become effective in 60 days, once approved.

In the future, necessary changes to amend Ordinance No. 348 and revise the Housing Element to clarify that ADUs may be used as STRs will be necessary. Both will require State Housing and Community Development Department’s approval.