REDDING, Calif. – This past Redding City Council meeting stirred up much controversy regarding where the council stands on short-term vacation rentals.
Some neighbors tell Action News Now that they don’t like the loud parties, lack of parking, and the dangers of having unknown people staying in those houses.
The city first allowed rentals back in 2016 but changed the ordinance three times since then.
It allows two types of rentals; one is short-term rentals which don’t require the homeowner to live there.
The other is hosted home stays where the homeowner can rent one room while living there.
If you want to rent out your house on Airbnb, the city says you have to pay $1,000 for a permit and renew it each year.
Jim Wilson says he’s frustrated the city hasn’t set stricter guidelines.
“You don’t know who these people are. Anyone can get online and rent them. There is a rental on the corner. They want to do one across the street. I have a problem with it, and grandma and grandpa would be great, but a house full of teenagers and guys, you don’t know what they are going to do,” Wilson said.
“If we raise the prices of the permit and the Vrbo owner will stress more to the renter the importance of following the rules, and maybe the Vrbo owner has to say to the renter that the deposit is $1,000 or $2,000. If I get a complaint and the police have to respond, you’re going to have to forfeit that deposit,” Mezzano said.
There are 196 legal vacation rentals and 122 legal hosted home stays in Redding.
The city does send out enforcement to some people suspected of renting without a permit and Redding Police Department does its part to try to control noise complaints.
Mezzano also says the council will bring this topic up again at the Aug. 2 or Aug. 16 city council meeting. He also encourages neighbors to come out and voice their concerns.