On Oct. 25, 2022, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed to impose a moratorium on issuing new certificates for short-term rentals (STRs) in the Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Wine Country areas of Riverside County. The moratorium on issuing new certificates was to last until Sept. 9, 2023.

Before the moratorium deadline, the county has instructed its contractor, Deckard Technologies of San Diego, to initiate action.

On Feb. 21, the contractor began sending letters to owners of STRs in the county, according to Felisa Cardona, the public information office for the county’s Transportation and Land Management Agency, which includes the Planning Department.

Three types of letters have been sent. The first and largest set went to permitted and legally operating STRs. Its purpose was to inform them of the new rules (such as off-street parking requirements and signage which should display the STR certificate number, the name and phone number of the responsible operator, the maximum occupancy, and the phone number for the county’s 24-hour Code Enforcement and clearly visible from the street) and their need to comply with these.

The second group of letters went to STR owners outside the moratorium area. These STRs appear to be operating without a county certificate for STRs. The letter informed them of the need of and how to comply with the county code.

The third letter, and most relevant to Hill residents, went to unpermitted or expired operations within one of the moratorium areas of the Hill and the Wine Country. These letters directed the operators to cease operations.

Nearly a third of the 1,900 letters mailed went to STR owners in the second and third groups. These people were told they have 30 days to comply or cease operations. If they continue to operate after the 30-day deadline, the county may seek a cease and desist order, according to Cardona.

“Our Call Center has been fielding these calls and answering the questions of the operators,” Cardona wrote. “Some of them will need to shut down until the moratorium is lifted and/or the board gives further direction.”

In Phase 2 of the effort, the Planning Department has begun holding stakeholder meetings with the intention of formal public hearings in the future.

The contract with Deckard was approved nearly a year ago. Among its responsibilities is developing and implementing an online system for registration and management of all STRs.

Also, STR owners will be able to access the online system to make payments for registration of STRs, renewing certificates and submitting the Transient Occupancy Tax from the rentals.

Finally, the county has access to reporting tools, such as the ability to identify and contact unpermitted, but operating, STRs.