Atascadero council tells staff to draft short-term rental ordinance centered on primary-residence permits

Atascadero city staff were directed Tuesday to draft a short-term rental ordinance that would prioritize properties that are the owner's primary residence, require a one-time safety inspection and a 24-hour local contact for complaints, and include neighbor-notification and enforcement provisions.

The planning director, Dunsmoor, told the council the city currently shows about 150 active short-term rental licenses and that only 18 licensed units are in multifamily zones, with just two in actual multifamily structures. He also said Senate Bill 346, the Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act, allows cities to compel listing platforms to share addresses and listings but requires a local ordinance to use that authority.

The nut of Tuesday's discussion was whether to preserve owner-occupied housing stock and neighborhood quality or allow broader use for investors. Council member Funk argued for rules that protect…