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Whittier moves to ban short-term rentals in high fire-hazard zones; staff directed to draft ordinance
Summary
Council unanimously directed staff to draft an ordinance incorporating staff recommendations on short-term rentals, including banning STRs in red, orange and yellow Fire Hazard Severity Zones; staff answered questions on R-1 legality and enforcement during the presentation.
The Whittier City Council on July 8 voted unanimously to direct staff to draft an ordinance regulating short-term residential rentals (STRs) that would, as recommended by staff, ban STRs located in areas designated as red, orange, or yellow on the City’s Fire Hazard Severity Maps.
Community Development Director Ben Pongetti presented the staff report, answering council questions on how the proposed regulations would interact with R-1 residential zoning and how residency requirements could be enforced. The council deliberated on the legality and enforcement options and then approved a motion by Council Member Mary Ann Pacheco, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Octavio Martinez, directing staff to prepare an ordinance consistent with staff recommendations.
Council members emphasized that the ban would apply only within the specified fire-hazard zones; the motion did not set final ordinance text or enforcement penalties and will return for future council consideration once staff drafts the ordinance language. No implementation timeline or funding changes were adopted at the meeting.
