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Resident urges city to allow short-term Airbnb rentals; commission says rule tied to ADU and state action
Summary
A longtime Sunset resident asked the planning commission to reconsider a 30-day minimum for rentals; staff said the rule stems from the city’s ADU and moderate-income housing work and awaits related state guidance.
Jerry Sunderland, a Sunset resident, told the Planning Commission on June 12 that he has operated an owner-occupied Airbnb for about 10 years and was surprised to learn the city’s rental code requires a 30-day minimum stay for residential rentals.
Sunderland said his property at 398 West 825 North is owner-occupied and that guests are typically family or passing travelers who stay one night. “I’ve been Airbnb for about 10 years… ours is owner occupied, meaning that we live on the property,” he said during public comment.
Commission staff and commissioners responded that the city’s short-term rental restriction is linked to its work on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and the city’s moderate-income housing reporting. Planning staff said that until the state clarifies certain ADU rules, the city has kept a 30-day minimum in its rental code to avoid undermining housing objectives intended for local residents rather than transient lodging.
Planning staff said the city has considered options such as permitting ADUs and owner-occupied exceptions but has not set a timeline to amend the code. “We had part of the ADU that we still needed to finish for our moderate income housing plan. We were waiting for the state because we knew that the state had a bill before the legislature…Until the state handles that, there’s really—” a planning staff member said during the meeting.
Commissioners and a council member attending the meeting noted pros and cons, including concerns that allowing short-term rentals without limits can encourage investors to buy multiple homes for tourist rentals and reduce housing available to residents. Several commissioners suggested any change might be limited to owner-occupied units or grandfather existing short-term listings.
Staff advised Sunderland that the city’s minutes and past meeting materials about ADUs and housing strategies are available on the city website and that the commission has the item on its radar for future review; no code change or deadline was announced.
Ending: The Planning Commission did not vote on any amendment to the rental code during the June 12 meeting. Staff said they would continue reviewing ADU and short-term rental rules and would bring proposals forward only after assessing state guidance and council direction.
