Council weighs ban on short‑term pool rentals after residents complain of noise, traffic and safety

Councilors at an Aug. 4 Safety & Service Committee meeting discussed complaints about short‑term pool rentals arranged through services that “rent swimming pools by the hour.” Council members said neighbors reported increased traffic, parking congestion, late‑night noise, litter and safety concerns at properties in Alpine Estates and elsewhere. Councilor Ritz, who raised the issue, said residents reported “increased traffic, parking congestion on the streets, noise disturbances, often extending into the evening hours, litter and property damage” and asked the city to examine whether the activity is permitted under current zoning.

The city solicitor told the committee the activity appears to be a commercial enterprise conducted in residential areas and is therefore subject to zoning restrictions on business activity in those zones. “You cannot operate a business out of your home in a residential setting,” the solicitor said, adding that advertising and fees on internet platforms are persuasive evidence that the activity is commercial.

Why it matters: Council members said the rentals can attract large gatherings and that a safety incident could expose the city to liability. The solicitor said short‑term enforcement by citation is possible but could be slow if contested; a targeted ordinance would remove ambiguity by expressly prohibiting short‑term commercial pool rentals in residential zones.

Committee and administration response: Committee members asked code enforcement to follow up, and were told citations already had been issued in at least some cases. The solicitor told the committee enforcement is a code enforcement matter and suggested the council consider drafting an ordinance that plainly prohibits commercial short‑term pool rentals in residential areas. Council members discussed a range of responses including enforcement letters, targeted ordinance language, and — as a last resort — seeking an injunction in superior court if immediate relief were needed.

Evidence and next steps: Council members asked that the matter remain on the Safety & Service Committee agenda for the next meeting and that code enforcement and the administration provide a status report, including whether the known complainants and hosts have been inspected and cited. The solicitor advised that a focused ordinance would leave no doubt that renting portions of a residence (a pool) for profit is not an allowed residential use.

The committee did not adopt new regulations at the meeting; members directed staff to pursue enforcement and report back and discussed drafting an ordinance to clarify the city’s position.