🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Simi Valley, CA
Residents Push Back, Simi Valley Commission Votes for STR Ban
Simi Valley Planning Commission Recommends STR Ban
Photo by Homes.com
A packed chamber and strong opposition from residents shaped a key decision in Simi Valley as the Planning Commission voted unanimously March 4 to recommend a citywide ban on short-term rentals.
The recommendation now heads to the City Council, which will decide whether STRs should be regulated or prohibited. The hearing was originally meant to review amendments to Title 9 of the municipal code that would allow and regulate STRs in residential zones. Instead, commissioners rejected the proposal outright, citing neighborhood impacts, enforcement challenges, and the high cost of overseeing the program.
City staff identified about 100 STR listings in Simi Valley, mostly on Airbnb and VRBO. The proposed ordinance would have allowed STRs in single-family homes, certain accessory dwelling units, townhomes, and condominiums, but prohibited them in apartments, garages, RVs, and vacant land.
Operators would have needed annual permits, business tax certificates, liability insurance, and nuisance response plans. Occupancy limits, noise monitoring, bans on events, and parking restrictions were also included.
Staff estimated STRs could generate $125,000 annually in taxes, but administering and enforcing the program would cost more than $321,000, leaving the city in deficit.
Residents voiced strong opposition. “People do not move to a city, buy a home, pay off a 30-year mortgage and retire expecting to have a business open right next door,” said longtime resident Anthony Eason. Heather Ross added, “STRs near my home have brought a constant barrage of tourists and unruly lodgers. Unlike hotels, STRs have no on-site staff, security or emergency protocols.”
Commissioners echoed concerns. Chair Lee Kennedy noted enforcement would be difficult whether STRs were banned or regulated. “When you ban something outright you still have violators,” he said. Commissioner Ivana Christmann worried STRs could reduce housing availability and affordability. “We are one of the most affordable cities in Ventura County, and my concern is we’re not going to stay affordable,” she said.
Commissioner Alan Mann acknowledged upcoming events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics could increase demand for rentals but said regulating them would be costly.
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Ultimately, commissioners agreed the risks outweighed the benefits and recommended a citywide ban. At the March 9 City Council meeting, Councilmember Rocky Rhodes suggested commissioning a professional community survey to gauge broader opinion. “We’re hearing from a very loud three to 10 people … A well-written and executed survey would tell us where the city actually stands,” Rhodes said.
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