Oside curbs short-term rentals

City Council bans all new, non-hosted STRs as residents express outrage, losing housing supply and many other issues

The Oceanside City Council approved a ban on all new, non-hosted short-term rental units in every residential zone except the Residential Tourist Zone. The council’s concerns were over taking up supply, less workforce housing and enforcement, to name a few. Steve Puterski photo

OCEANSIDE — Short-term rentals have been a burning issue over the past several years and the City Council recently opted to ban all new, non-hosted STRs outside the Residential Tourist Zone.

The unanimous action during the City Council’s Dec. 20, 2023, meeting changed the city’s policy, which previously allowed for STRs inside and outside the Coastal Zone. Councilman Peter Weiss amended the staff recommendation to include the ban new, non-hosted STRs citywide outside the Residential Tourist Zone.

The tourist zone is RT Zone is generally Wisconsin Avenue and the southern boundary extends approximately 815 feet south of Buccaneer Beach, according to city staff.

The Planning Commission, meanwhile, voted 5-0 in November 2023 against the proposed staff amendment and instead suggested several alternative actions including an analysis and to ensure regular reporting.

According to the staff report, the city has 1,112 STRs with 749 in the Coastal Zone and 283 outside the area and 91 in various stages of the permitting process. According to Oceanside City Planner Sergio Madera, the city has 112 active permits for hosted STRs outside the Coastal Zone with 171 listed as non-hosted.