Do you operate an Airbnb or a Vrbo in unincorporated Humboldt County? Or, do you have passionate opinions about people who do? If so, you’ll want to attend tonight’s community meeting on short-term rentals.

Flyer provided by County of Humboldt

Humboldt County Planning and Building staff will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. at the Humboldt County Agricultural Center, 5630 South Broadway in Eureka, to discuss proposed rules for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas of the county. Attendees will have an opportunity to share concerns surrounding short-term rentals and learn about the revisions made to the draft ordinance.

Planning and Building staff estimate that there are over 1,000 short-term rentals operating in unincorporated areas of Humboldt County, even though they are not currently allowed to operate. 

Back in June, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted an urgency ordinance that placed a temporary ban on new short-term rentals (dwelling units that are rented to guests for 30 consecutive days or less) to give staff time to form new rules for such uses. The temporary moratorium was adopted to discourage people from rushing to initiate new short-term rental units in advance of the proposed ordinance. If the ordinance is adopted, short-term rentals initiated after June 6, 2023, will not be acknowledged as pre-existing due to the moratorium.

Tonight’s meeting is the third in a series of public discussions on the proposed rules. Staff will hold two additional meetings on the draft short-term rental ordinance on Thursday, Aug. 24 and Wednesday, Sept. 6. Check out the press release below for more information.

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Press release from County of Humboldt’s Planning and Building Department:

The County of Humboldt once again reminds the community that an ordinance is being prepared to allow the use of short-term rentals (STRs) in unincorporated Humboldt County. 

The purpose of the draft STR Ordinance is to allow some residences in unincorporated Humboldt County to be used for STRs while protecting the character of the neighborhoods where they are located and to preserve residential units for people and families who live and work in Humboldt County. 

The County of Humboldt’s Planning & Building Department has revised the draft ordinance based on community feedback received at the first STR ordinance public meeting. The proposed revisions include administrative permit and business license requirements only for most projects, a cap on STRs in the greater Humboldt Bay area where housing is more scarce, and deference to existing operations. To learn more and review the revised draft ordinance, please visit the county’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance web page.

To receive public feedback on the revised draft STR ordinance, the Planning & Building Department will host two additional community meetings.

Community Meetings

An in person Northern Humboldt community meeting will take place on Thursday, Aug. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Center at McKinleyville, located at 1615 Heartwood Dr. in McKinleyville.

A Zoom meeting to present additional changes made in response to the Southern Humboldt, Humboldt Bay Area and Northern Humboldt community meetings will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Community members can register and join the zoom call at the following address by visiting bit.ly/HumSTRO1 or by scanning the QR code found below this press release.

The draft ordinance proposes a permitting process for rental of residential dwelling units for a period of 30 days or fewer, including homes listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. Those who operate these types of STR units in unincorporated Humboldt County and all interested members of the public are encouraged to attend. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the revisions made to the draft ordinance and ask questions and share concerns, ideas, and input.

The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for this meeting can be made by calling (707) 268-3722.   

For more information, please call (707) 268-3722, email khilton@co.humboldt.ca.us, or visit the Planning & Building Department office located at 3015 H St. in Eureka.