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Rancho Mirage council adopts tiered fines for short‑term rental violations
Summary
The City Council introduced and read an ordinance to amend municipal code penalties for short‑term rental violations, adopting a tiered monetary schedule while keeping the existing ban on short‑term rentals; the ordinance passed 5‑0.
The Rancho Mirage City Council on July 17 approved a zoning text amendment that updates monetary penalties for short‑term rental violations while leaving the city's existing prohibition on short‑term rentals in place.
Pam Burkey, code compliance manager, presented the proposed amendment to Chapter 17 of the Rancho Mirage Municipal Code to add a tier‑based penalty fee schedule for violations of the short‑term rental regulations. Burkey told the council the ordinance only modifies monetary regulations and does not change the ban on short‑term rentals.
During public comment, a resident objected to what he described as excessive fines and to hearing concerns about the administrative enforcement process. Council members discussed the broader challenge of regulating short‑term rentals and praised the approach as a way to provide clearer enforcement guidance to homeowners and staff.
Council member O'Keefe moved to adopt staff’s recommendation, including findings under CEQA (staff identified CEQA guidelines sections 15378 and 15061(b)(3) as applicable exemptions), introduce the ordinance on first reading amending section 17.30.270(d) of the municipal code, and adopt a resolution establishing a tiered fine schedule. The motion passed on a 5‑0 roll call vote.
Ending: The council adopted the ordinance amendments on first reading and directed staff to implement the updated fine schedule per the adopted resolution.
