🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Goleta, CA
Goleta Considers New Rules for Short-Term Rentals Amid Housing Concerns
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Goleta Considers New Rules for Short-Term Rentals Amid Housing Concerns
Short-term rental hosts in Goleta, take note—change is on the horizon. The City Council is moving forward with a plan to tighten restrictions on STRs. While a recent study suggests STRs aren’t currently a major factor in the housing crunch, city leaders are taking a “better safe than sorry” approach.
At their latest meeting, the council backed several new measures: capping how many nights non-owner-occupied STRs can be rented, imposing a waiting period of one year after a home is purchased before a STR permit can be issued, and banning permits for properties that have recently had no-fault evictions. The goal? Stop landlords from evicting tenants just to cash in on the short-term rental market.
Councilmembers James Kyriaco and Luz Reyes-Martin also want staff to explore capping the total number of STR permits allowed in the city. However, Councilmember Stuart Kasdin raised concerns, warning that a cap might backfire by encouraging owners to hold onto STR permits indefinitely.
For context, a consultant study found only 51 active STRs in Goleta last year—about 0.4% of the city’s housing stock. While the impact is currently small, the fear is that an influx of non-hosted rentals could drive up housing prices and limit availability. That’s why the city is acting now.
Local STR advocate Michael Becchio pushed back, arguing that STRs are a vital part of the local economy and not to blame for the housing shortage.
“We should focus on solutions that actually create more housing, not policies that barely move the needle,” he said.
Goleta's Short-Term Vacation Rentals
City staff will now draft an ordinance with the proposed restrictions and bring it back to the council for final approval.
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