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Council asks staff to prepare urgency ordinance to temporarily allow short‑term rentals for fire evacuees, adds eviction‑protection consideration
Summary
Citing housing needs for wildfire evacuees, council voted unanimously to ask staff to draft an urgency ordinance allowing short‑term rentals on a temporary basis for displaced households and to examine eviction protections and other safeguards.
Hermosa Beach City Council voted unanimously (5–0) to direct staff to prepare an urgency ordinance for the council’s next meeting that would temporarily allow use of short‑term rentals to house people displaced by the January 2025 wildfires, with a companion review of eviction protections for existing tenants.
Nut graf: Council members said the measure is intended narrowly to create temporary housing options for people made homeless or displaced by the regional fires, while proponents and some council members urged safeguards — a defined sunset, enforcement to prevent commercial exploitation and protections for current renters.
During public comment, residents who had been displaced in prior fires urged the council to allow short‑term rental use for one to several weeks or months to provide immediate shelter. “I implore upon council to take this seriously and please please allow short term rentals just for the time to address this crisis,” said resident Laura Pena.
Council debate centered on balancing rapid shelter options with long‑term housing supply concerns. Several council members and staff noted existing legal limits on rent increases and state price‑gouging laws; the city attorney explained enforcement mechanisms are available under state law and the city could pursue a local ordinance for additional protections but that some remedies would require fuller legal review.
Action: A motion asking staff to draft an urgency ordinance for temporary short‑term rental use for evacuees, to include recommended guardrails (sunset date, registration criteria and an eviction‑protection component), passed 5–0. The council accepted a friendly amendment to include discussion of eviction protections similar to past no‑fault eviction moratoria for covered circumstances; staff will return with a draft ordinance and related implementation details at the next council meeting.
Ending: Council instructed staff to prepare language and options for an urgency ordinance for the next meeting; the draft will address sunset timing, registration and enforcement, taxation/TOT handling and tenant‑protection options.
