Aimed at curbing nuisance and noise activity, Ordinance 927 adopted by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors requires owners of short-term rentals in the county’s unincorporated areas to register their properties.

Short-term rental owners must pay an annual registration fee, be subject to a 10 percent annual transient occupancy tax, and comply with guidelines to restrict noise, trash and limit street parking. Registration fees are to be used to cover costs of enforcement of the ordinance. Similar ordinances are in effect in incorporated towns within the county and are designed to ensure quality of life and enjoyment of their homes for residents who live near short-term rentals.

Recently, in compliance with Section 10 of the ordinance, postcards were mailed to residents within 100 feet of short-term rentals. The “County of Riverside Notification of Neighboring Short-term Rental” lists the rental’s address and provides a “Short-term Rental Hotline Number” for complaints. The postcard notice advises calling the hotline for any non-emergency situation such as a noise complaint related to the property. It notes, “When reporting an incident, have the address of the property readily available for reference. It is important that you call during the disturbance so we can document and respond in a timely manner.” The hotline number is listed as (888) 223-0068. The Sheriff’s Department should only be called in case of an emergency.

A good neighbor brochure, published by the county, advises that the following rules will be strictly enforced: quiet hours from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.; trash and refuse shall not be stored within public view; renters and guests must only park in the rental’s garage, driveway or directly in front of the short-term rental property to avoid ticketing; and dogs must be on leashes whenever in unenclosed areas, and barking dogs must be regulated.

Short-term rentals are defined as any 30 days or fewer occupied for “not less than two days and one night.” Rental owners must designate an authorized representative to be available 24/7 for the purpose of responding “within 60 minutes” to complaints related to the short-term rental and “taking remedial action to resolve such complaints.” The ordinance describes typical complaints within the ordinance as those regarding the “condition, operation or guests’ conduct” of the short-term rental. The authorized representative must provide a copy of the good neighbor brochure to short-term rental guests and acknowledge that he or she is “legally responsible for compliance by all guests of the short-term rental with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use and occupancy of the short-term rental.”

For more information about the requirements of the ordinance see http://planning.rctlma.org/Home/WhatsNew/ShortTermRentals-Ordinance927.