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Manhattan Beach directs staff to craft temporary short-term rental rules for FIFA World Cup; council asks for pilot parameters
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Summary
The council asked staff to return with draft code language for a time-limited World Cup pilot (narrow window around matches, enforcement and a possible cap), after staff presented two surveys showing mixed resident support; the direction passed 3-2.
The Manhattan Beach City Council directed staff on Dec. 16 to prepare a temporary ordinance to allow limited short-term rentals outside the coastal zone for the upcoming FIFA World Cup (and to return later with options for the 2028 Olympics). Staff presented two community surveys and recommended guardrails such as a finite time window, caps on licensed properties, host-on-site options, occupancy limits and enhanced enforcement and TOT collection.
Senior Planner Jae Yoon explained that the city's current municipal code prohibits short-term rentals outside the coastal zone (coastal-zone listings are allowed after an earlier legal opinion). The True North survey (scientific panel) showed about 58% initial support for a temporary allowance, rising to 66% after respondents learned that additional revenue could cover public-safety costs. A FlashVote panel of roughly 321 participants showed similar but nuanced results; many respondents cited parking and noise as primary concerns.
Council debate focused on balancing residents' quality-of-life concerns with the anticipated influx of visitors for a short, high-demand period; several councilmembers favored a narrowly tailored pilot (for the World Cup only) that would start a week or two before games and end shortly after, with neighbor notification, a cap on the number of participating units, and robust enforcement mechanisms. Opponents warned a temporary exception can become permanent and asked for clear notification and limits. Mayor Pro Tem Franklin and others urged limiting any change to the coastal zone only; supporters said keeping activity legal during the event would let the city collect TOT and better manage enforcement.
The council instructed staff to prepare draft code language for a World Cup pilot that would (at minimum) define the time window, describe operation and enforcement rules, explore caps and notification requirements, and estimate enforcement resources and revenue. Staff will return with a draft ordinance and a public hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026 if council chooses to proceed. Council also asked staff to include additional outreach and to report on how neighboring jurisdictions are handling similar events.
Next steps: staff will prepare draft ordinance language, identify enforcement and TOT-collection procedures, estimate fiscal impacts and ask for community outreach and a public hearing. Council members indicated interest in testing a limited World Cup pilot first before considering any broader or Olympic-related change.
Direct quote: "A special events exemption offers a mutually beneficial, balanced approach," said a representative of the California Short Term Rental Association, advocating for a short, managed exception.
