National City council asks staff for study of short-term rentals, to return with data in February

The National City Council voted to ask staff to pursue a formal ordinance process for short-term rentals (STRs) and return with a detailed report, after a staff presentation and extensive council questions.

Martin Reeder, assistant director of community development, said preliminary searches of listing platforms suggest roughly 125'to 200 short-term rental units in National City. He described a vendor-managed permitting model used by some cities that would collect transient occupancy tax (TOT), issue permits, and provide monitoring and enforcement data to the city. "That will give us additional avenues for compliance," Reeder said.

Council members asked for more granular information, including a district-level map of STR listings, counts by property type (single-family vs. multifamily), likely revenue from TOT, and enforcement and public-safety impacts. "We need to know how many of those units exist and where they are so we can mitigate public-safety concerns and ensure our housing supply isn't being eroded," Councilmember (name recorded in roll) said.

Police officials noted STRs can be linked to a range of problems from nuisance parties to more serious crimes; councilmembers said enforcement and nuisance mechanisms are major concerns. Staff proposed a phased approach: return to council with the data and recommendations in early first-quarter 2025 (staff suggested February) and then proceed through the ordinance and vendor-selection process if directed.

The council approved the request for staff to continue research and return with an STR report and ordinance framework in or by February, and to consider options such as limiting STRs in multifamily zones, licensing requirements, 24-hour contact numbers for hosts, quiet-hours rules and revocation of permits for repeat violations.