RESOLUTION NO. 2025-xx
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2021-17, TO ALLOW SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA TO AID 2025 FIRESTORM VICTIMS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, California’s Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties due to devastating firestorms which have burned more than 15,000 homes, leaving tens of thousands without housing; and WHEREAS, in light of this unparallelled devastation, the City Council has determined that the need to locate temporary housing for the victims of the firestorms should take precedence over the existing prohibition on short term rentals except for home-sharing which was approved by the City Council on November 2, 2021 pursuant to Ordinance No. 2021-17; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to temporarily suspend the prohibition on short term rentals for a period of time sufficient to allow firestorm victims as many options as possible for temporary housing as they deal with the aftermath of the firestorms; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa as follows:
Ordinance 2021-17 is temporarily suspended to provide temporary housing opportunities to victims of the January 2025 Firestorms, the suspension to remain in effect until further action of the City Council; and BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, the temporary suspension will be lifted at such time as the City Council deems appropriate; and BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, it is the express intent of this Resolution: 1) that any short term rentals which are permitted during this temporary suspension shall not be considered legally non-conforming within the meaning of Chapter X of the Zoning Code or any other law providing that they would be exempt from future law or regulation; 2) that such uses continue to be subject to any and all other applicable provisions of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code and/or other law; and 3) that this exemption be construed narrowly and consistent with its intent to aid firestorm victims.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 28th day of January, 2025. _______________________________
John Stephens, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ _____________________________ Brenda Green, City Clerk Kimberly Hall Barlow, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 2025-__ and was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a special meeting held on the 28th day of January, 2025, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of Costa Mesa this 29th day of January, 2025. _______________________________
BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK