At its Aug. 29 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved an extension of the moratorium on issuing new short-term rental (STR) certificates in Idyllwild (including Pine Cove) and the Wine Country.

The new Ordinance 449.253 is effective immediately and will expire in one year or when a revised Ordinance 927.2 (STR) goes into effect, whichever is sooner.

The current moratorium (Ordinance 449.252), approved in October 2022, included Mountain Center properties, but this moratorium only applies to Idyllwild, Pine Cove and the Wine Country.

The need for the original moratorium was stated in the staff report to the board, “… to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, while the County evaluates the impacts of Short Term Rentals in these areas and reasonable regulations to mitigate such impacts.”

These impacts have been reviewed over the past year. The county has held several meetings in Idyllwild and the Wine Country. Small advisory groups for each community were created and met with county staff during the period.

During the Idyllwild meetings, the community and county staff agreed to remove Mountain Center from the moratorium extension. According to the staff report, “Mountain Center is not subject to the same increased threat to public health, safety, and welfare from Short Term Rentals as Idyllwild and Pine Cove.”

As a result of all the meetings — Idyllwild and the Wine Country — a proposed new Ordinance 927, Short Term Rentals, was presented to the Planning Commission last week. The commission recommended the board approve it since it includes a cap on the number of STRS in each community as well as density limitations.

The staff’s report notes, “There are not enough Board hearings prior to the moratorium expiration on September 9, 2023 for Ordinance No. 927.2 to be both adopted by the Board and take effect.”

The Planning Department expects to present this proposal to the board in September. The next board meetings are scheduled for Sept. 12 and then Sept. 26. Once approved, there is normally a 30-day period before it takes effect.

The extension language states, the moratorium will “… remain in effect until the earlier of one (1) year or until Ordinance No. 927.2 is both adopted and effective, unless sooner repealed by the Board.”

The reasons for extending the moratorium on the Hill remain unchanged, according to the report. “Idyllwild and Pine Cove are located near national forest and wilderness areas. This remote, rural retreat has developed as a mountain resort with single family homes, a variety of lodging, camping, and recreational opportunities. The transformation of 465 residences to Short Term Rentals, which is almost 12% (and rising) of residences in this area, and disproportionately concentrated in certain neighborhoods, threatens the fabric of the community … Also, the infrastructure in this area remains rural in nature, exhibiting narrow, steep roads and a lack of shoulder parking. The area is also prone to devastating fires and much of this area is designated a very high fire severity zone. Short Term Rentals, particularly the concentration, in these locations, without proper regulation to address evacuations and fire safety, may jeopardize the safety of guests and the community.”

The extension applies to issuing new STR certificates. Existing certificates and their renewals are not affected. Pursuant to the report to the board, “This urgency ordinance does not prohibit the continued operation or renewals of Short Term Rentals, which have legally obtained a Short term Rental Certificate prior to the effective date of Ordinance No. 449.251.”