The Tehachapi City Council introduced an ordinance on first reading that would update several municipal-code chapters to modernize enforcement procedures and refine rules for short‑term rentals, garbage and parking compliance.

Development services staff told the council the package would (1) allow officers to treat violations as either misdemeanors or infractions based on seriousness or repetition and permit the city to set fine schedules by resolution rather than by ordinance, (2) limit issuance of new short‑term rental permits to a defined downtown zone while grandfathering existing permits in good standing, (3) clarify advertising rules so platforms that list short‑term units are limited to permitted properties, (4) require owners to retrieve trash that blows from their containers and require businesses to keep dumpster enclosures closed, and (5) require vehicles parked in painted diagonal spaces to park between the lines.

Staff explained short‑term rentals would be defined as stays of less than 30 days and that a short‑term rental with two or more bedrooms would be presumed to offer lodging for five or more persons and thus be subject to transient‑occupancy tax. Staff said the limit on new permits applies to the downtown zone shown in the staff map; existing permits outside downtown would remain valid if kept in good standing.

On administrative citations, staff said the code currently treats many violations as misdemeanors unless an ordinance makes them infractions; the proposed change would give officers and prosecutors discretion to use infractions for lower‑level violations and reserve misdemeanor prosecution for repeat or serious offenses. Staff said the council would set a schedule of fines by resolution; no fine amounts were changed during the introduction.

On trash and rubbish, staff said the new language would make owners responsible when trash from their containers scatters into streets or neighboring properties and require businesses to keep dumpster areas secure to reduce animal scattering and windblown litter. For diagonal parking, staff said enforcement would be discretionary and intended to maintain limited downtown parking and public safety.

Staff recommended the council introduce the ordinance by title only; council voted to introduce the package for first reading. Staff said the changes are administrative/regulatory, would not have physical environmental impacts, and that the ordinance is exempt from CEQA under the general rule. The council will consider formal adoption and any associated resolutions at a future meeting.