Mendocino County’s Department of Planning and Building Services will hold a series of public meetings over the next few weeks ahead of a proposed expansion of the county’s short-term rental ordinance into the inland areas.
The county hopes to incorporate feedback from residents and stakeholders regarding policies and solutions surrounding short-term rentals and their impact on residents, tourism, and real estate.
Short-term rentals, like those listed on Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms, can affect transient occupancy tax revenue, housing availability, and the overall environment of local neighborhoods. Residents also have concerns about noise and parking impacts.
Short-term rental regulations are currently in place in the coastal region and the town of Mendocino, with no regulations yet for the inland area.
On its website the county said the new rules “will maintain functional, safe, and attractive communities compatible with the General Plan and community objectives, infrastructure availability, environmental, safety, and economic constraints.”
Planners from the county’s Building Services department will give brief presentations on current policies and common concerns of constituents. The workshops will also include a roundtable session where attendees can contribute ideas for a future short-term rental ordinance.
The first of the workshops took place Wednesday in Fort Bragg. Future meetings include:
• Anderson Valley: Monday, April 14, 6 p.m., Boonville Veterans Memorial Building, 14470 Highway 128, Boonville.
• Willits: Wednesday, April 16, 6 p.m., Mendocino County Museum, 400 E. Commercial St., Willits.
• Covelo: Wednesday, April 23, 3 p.m., Round Valley Branch Library, 23925 Howard St., Covelo.
• Ukiah: Wednesday, April 30, 6 p.m., Conference Room C, Mendocino County Administration Center, 501 Low Gap Road, Ukiah.
The short-term rental workshops will be in-person events, except for one on April 30 in Ukiah, which will offer a virtual option on Zoom.
More information about the workshops and ordinances is available on the Mendocino County website.