New rules will determine how short-term rentals are handled at Lake Elsinore.
An ordinance that imposes restrictions on rental homes, which has raised concerns about noise and limited parking in some neighborhoods, has been approved by Lake Elsinore City Council.
Previously, Lake Elsinore had no regulations for short-term rentals — like Airbnb, Vrbo and HomeAway — which have sprung up in the city and surrounding areas but were technically prohibited.
The order, approved on January 11, add a chapter to the city’s municipal code, which sets the rules. New requirements for owners include obtaining an annual business license, complying with transitional tourist tax requirements, following building and public safety codes and limiting the number of guests.
Only houses – not garages, trailers, tents or secondary suites – can be used as short-term rentals. And they are to be used for accommodation only – not for parties or events. Loud music and outdoor activities must stop at 10 p.m., according to the rules.
The city will allow short-term rentals in all residential and commercial areas, as long as landlords follow the rules, according to a report.
“The goal is to preserve the single-family character of the neighborhoods and prevent these short-term rentals from becoming nuisances themselves,” Lake Elsinore assistant director of community development Justin Kirk said at the meeting.
Kirk said the city receives complaints about rentals, but it’s difficult to deal with them without city regulations.
The city has also created a Good Neighbor Brochure which summarizes the rules for guests. The move follows approval at the end of 2020 rules similar to Murrieta.
At the meeting, Mayor Timothy Sheridan discussed the possibility of limiting where short-term rentals are allowed, such as banning them from neighborhoods with single-family homes. He mentioned the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and the possibility of Lake Elsinore hosting those who wish to attend.
“I don’t want to deprive owners of opportunities to use their home and rent it out to people from all over the world,” he said. “I recognize that we live in a city with a lake, and there are opportunities for people who own property there.”
Councilman Bob Magee said the ordinance “protects our residents,” while allowing the city to collect taxes.
“It gives them a mechanism and a tool to contact code enforcement regarding noise, parking, trash and debris, public urination,” Magee said. “We market ourselves as a tourist destination…that money can be reinvested in code enforcement and other public safety mechanisms.”
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