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Norco adopts 45‑day interim moratorium banning kitchens in hotel guest rooms
Summary
The council voted unanimously to adopt an interim urgency ordinance stopping hotels from including kitchens in guest rooms for 45 days while staff studies whether kitchens encourage extended‑stay uses and whether long‑term limits or required amenities are appropriate.
The Norco City Council on a unanimous roll‑call vote adopted an interim urgency ordinance placing a 45‑day moratorium on new hotel guest rooms that include kitchens.
Alma Robles, Community Development Director, said the existing municipal code allowed up to 10% of hotel rooms to contain kitchens and that council members had expressed concern that kitchen‑equipped rooms encourage extended‑stay operations. The proposed interim ordinance would temporarily prohibit kitchens in hotel guest rooms while staff studies impacts and potential code amendments.
Why it matters: council members said the city wants data about how kitchen‑equipped rooms are used locally and whether amenities should be required for hotels that provide kitchenettes so rooms are not repurposed as extended‑stay housing. Several council members asked staff to collect information on customer types (for example athletic groups or tournaments that use rooms with kitchens) and on whether imposing amenities or other conditions would mitigate unintended uses.
Council action and vote: Council member Sullivan moved and the council adopted the interim urgency ordinance by unanimous vote. Voting (verbal roll call): Council member Sullivan — yes; Council member Bowen — yes; Council member Bosch — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Granmeier — yes; Mayor Newton — yes. The ordinance was introduced by title during the meeting; a four‑fifths vote was noted as required for urgency adoption.
Next steps: staff will use the 45‑day moratorium to assess data on hotel usage and bring back recommended code changes (for example, lowering the percentage allowance, imposing amenity or parking standards, or maintaining the prohibition). The ordinance may be extended consistent with state law if staff requests it and council approves.
