The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, April 5th to briefly discuss the new vacation (short-term) rental ordinance that is being amended this year.

While nothing could be decided due to the Planning Commission asking for additional information from Permit Sonoma staff at their meeting in March. It became clear the Supervisor Hopkins is worried about the cap in the Russian River (covering areas of Guerneville, Monte Rio, etc.) expiring before the new ordinance can be put in place. Once the Board votes on an ordinance it cannot be adopted for 30 days; so with the cap expiring on August 6, 2022 and Permit Sonoma staff planning to come back to the Board on August 2, 2022 for a vote their hands could be tied unless they take action sooner.

There are two options from here, the Board of Supervisors have to either adopt a county wide moratorium in July 2022 to stop a slew of new permits being issued once the cap expires in early August or the Board can adopt the business license section of the vacation rental ordinance which somehow continue to limit permits in the Russian River area of District 5 and the Theodor Lane area of District 1.

The next Board of Supervisors meeting to address short term rentals is scheduled for May 3, 2022.

Click here for the video of the April 5th meeting.