County says STR rules for the Santa Monica Mountains await Coastal Commission review; not retroactive for now
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Summary
A county representative told Topanga residents the supervisor amended an STR ordinance to exclude portions of the canyon until the Coastal Commission completes guidance; planning staff expect to present to the commission early next year and say current draft is not intended to be retroactive.
The supervisor’s office updated residents on short‑term rental (STR) policy work and planning coordination with the California Coastal Commission. Sofia, a county representative, said the supervisor added an amendment to exclude portions of the canyon (including some Topanga areas) until the Coastal Commission returns guidance on incorporation of the Santa Monica Mountains. Planning staff have been in back‑and‑forth communications with the Coastal Commission and the county expects to bring materials to that body early next year.
Sofia said the current approach is not intended to impose retroactive enforcement: existing STR sites in the Santa Monica Mountains remain unpermitted and could be subject to enforcement only for egregious behavior, but the draft ordinance will not be retroactively applied at present. The county urged residents to report unpermitted activity if it is causing neighborhood disturbance and offered to connect residents with planning staff and the treasurer‑tax collector for specific registration questions.
Officials said when the Coastal Commission posts a date for review they will share it with the community and suggested preparing for public comment opportunities at that hearing.