SHORT TERM RENTALS ORDINANCE
CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
POLICY IMPETUS
2CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 – SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Housing Element (2022) Policy H-19: “Limit short-term
rentals. . . which reduce the supply of long-term housing units for sale or rent.”
Concerns around short-term rentals that are operated by out-of-town property owners.
Code Enforcement complaints regarding noise and traffic concerns caused by certain kinds of short-term rentals.
DEFINITIONS
3CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 – SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Short Term Rental / STR = <30 day rental, accessory use Primary Residence = permanent place of return as home Home Sharing = STR w/ perm. residence as part of STR
Vacation Rental = STR w/perm. residence on same property Local Contact = responsible person when resident is absent
PLANNING BOARD DELIBERATIONS
4CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 – SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Not widespread problem/housing supply issue
Good to require owner-occupants on site
No time limits necessary if hosted
Could be separate unit on property
ADUs are prohibited by law post-2017
Prohibit STR in other protected units
Good neighbor policy needed
Safety checklist a good idea - keep it simple
Only write rules that are easily enforced
WHERE PERMITTED / EXCLUDED
5CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 – SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Permitted:
Residential buildings
(all or part)
Floating homes and
live aboards
Separate sleeping
space (must meet
housing code)
Not Permitted:
Group housing
ADU / JADUs
SB9 subdivisions
Inclusionary (affordable) units
Subsidized (public / voucher)
Eviction, Ellis Act eviction
Code enforcement cases
PERMIT PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT
6CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 – SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Permit Process
Ministerial Review – Director level (staff)
Appealable (by applicant) to Planning Board
May be Denied – due to failure to meet criteria
May be Suspended or Revoked – progressive warning and suspension Amnesty Period – 60 days for existing operators to obtain permit Non-Transferable
Annual Renewal Required
Requires Business License
Requires Payment of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
Enforcement – Per AMC Section 1-7 (administrative citations)
RECOMMENDATION
7CITY COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 – SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE Adopt the first reading of an ordinance to amend the
Alameda Municipal Code to add section 30-19, Short Term Rental Regulations, and determine the regulations exempt from CEQA.