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Amador supervisors approve Tourism Marketing District with small-rental carve-out after lengthy hearing
Summary
The Amador County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to establish a Tourism Marketing District to fund countywide marketing; the final plan includes an exemption process for very small, owner-occupied short-term rentals and accessory units without full kitchens.
The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a resolution creating an Amador County Tourism Marketing District (TMD), a visitor-funded assessment intended to finance countywide tourism marketing and promotion, by a 4-1 vote.
Proponents said the district will provide a stable, dedicated funding stream for coordinated marketing to increase overnight stays and smooth seasonal demand. Opponents argued the assessment resembles a tax, raised legal and zoning concerns for properties in residential zones, and warned of potential local impacts if tourism increased.
The district will operate as an assessment paid by visitors at the time of booking and remitted through lodging operators; consultants will contract with HDL to administer collections and to manage marketing programs, proponents said. Presenters from the Amador Council of Tourism described the district as a tool to draw midweek visitors and to support lodging, restaurants and other businesses dependent on visitor spending.
Debate focused on a narrowly drafted exemption added by proponents and acknowledged by the board. The carve-out allows property owners to apply for an exemption if a short-term rental meets all of these criteria: it is a single room in the owner’s primary residence, or an accessory dwelling unit/converted garage without a full kitchen (microwave or single hot plate acceptable), the owner must be present during rentals, and the owner may not operate more than one short-term rental whole-home on other properties in Amador County. Proponents said the exemption targets a very small subset of listings (they estimated “less than 5%” of units) and that applicants would provide photos or documentation to verify eligibility.
Opponents raised legal arguments citing California Streets and Highways Code provisions and the business/property improvement district statutes. Speakers asked whether the assessment could be applied to residentially zoned properties that cannot expand room sales, and whether the assessment constitutes a tax requiring voter approval. Several residents also expressed concerns that a TMD could increase costs for visitors and could have unintended environmental and social effects. Supporters responded that the TMD is narrowly focused on marketing and not intended to solve homelessness or other broad social problems.
After public comment and further board discussion, Supervisor Pat Crew moved to adopt the resolution with the exemption included; the motion passed 4-1. Supervisor Oneto voted no.
The board instructed county staff to incorporate the exemption language into the district plan and noted procedural next steps for final establishment, including the majority-protest period documentation and vendor contracting for collections and program administration.
Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt resolution establishing the Amador County Tourism Marketing District, including the exemption for certain owner-occupied single-room/ADU short-term rentals — Outcome: approved 4-1 (Chairman Brown: Aye; Vice Chairman Crew: Aye; Supervisor Carnell: Aye; Supervisor Epperson: Aye; Supervisor Oneto: No).
The district’s enabling ordinance text, assessment rate, collection mechanics and the final district boundary will be implemented through staff and the administrative contract with HDL, the board was told. Further implementation steps and the petition/majority-protest process were discussed as part of the record.
