The Whittier City Council voted July 8 to direct staff to prepare a short-term rental (STR) ordinance incorporating a set of 12 best-practice controls and to prohibit STRs in areas the California State Fire Marshal maps as very high, high and moderate fire hazard zones.

Staff summarized draft controls — which include business licenses, STR permits, transient-occupancy-tax collection, a seven-night minimum stay, and requirements that an owner live on the property — and asked the council whether to add a prohibition on STRs in mapped fire-hazard zones. Several residents who live in the Whittier Hills testified in detail about narrow, one‑way streets, lack of fire access, parties, parking problems and fireworks; many urged a full ban in hillside areas. Janice, Krista, Diane, Leon and others described repeated calls to police and near-miss conditions in one‑way neighborhoods.

Speakers described fire-risk specifics: neighbors reported STR guests smoking outdoors, throwing cigarette butts into planters, and setting off skyrockets; residents emphasized limited access streets where emergency vehicles could be blocked. Leonard Avila said his family lives across the street from an “illegal and unpermitted short term rental” and described guests setting off fireworks and leaving cigarette butts in yards. Multiple commenters cited the city’s designation (on the CAL FIRE update) of large portions of the Whittier Hills as very high fire hazard.

Councilmembers debated scope. Councilmember Warner and others said the mapped zones are sufficiently hazardous that STRs should be barred in all three elevated categories (red/orange/yellow). Councilmember Martinez, while supporting a ban in the mapped zones, said he was more cautious about using a broad ban in white areas farther from the hills where responsible hosts live on-site. The council ultimately voted 5-0 for staff direction to draft an ordinance reflecting the 12 best-practice items and to prohibit STRs in the CAL FIRE-designated red, orange and yellow zones. The vote was: Councilmember Warner — aye; Councilmember Pacheco — aye; Councilmember Dutra — aye; Mayor Pro Tem Martinez — aye; Mayor Vinatieri — aye.

Staff said Airbnb listings in Whittier had fallen in recent years and that a precise, cross‑platform geocoded count would require third‑party data consolidation; staff estimated a substantial reduction in advertised listings compared with a few years ago and said data would be compiled during ordinance preparation. Staff also noted enforcement complexity and pledged to include implementation language on permitting, enforcement and penalties when returning to the council.

Council instructed staff to draft the ordinance for review by the Planning Commission and for future council consideration; no final ordinance text was adopted on July 8. The council also asked staff to consider insurance and other homeowner implications when drafting the rules and to return with the proposed ordinance and an implementation plan.