The Planning Commission is set to convene a public hearing tonight to consider a proposed Zone Text Amendment (ZTA) that aims to lengthen the initial dwelling lease term for individually owned single-family dwellings and condominiums from 31 days to 60 days.
The proposal comes in the wake of various studies and reports, highlighting the fluid nature of employment and temporary housing needs within the city. The UCLA Anderson Forecast Report reveals the vast economic impact of the entertainment sector, providing 422,300 jobs and $152.7 billion in revenue. However, approximately 8% of these positions were categorized as “gig” jobs in 2021, often resulting in temporary housing needs.
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) further illustrates this trend, with rate cards outlining varying employment periods and days worked, reflecting the specialized needs of the industry.
A remarkable 74% growth in the healthcare and social assistance industry between 2009 and 2019 has been documented by the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development. Prominent institutions like Cedars-Sinai and Ronald Reagan UCLA Hospital often necessitate temporary stays for patients and accompanying family members. With average stays ranging from 7.6 days to over 25 days, the demand for temporary housing is an essential consideration.
West Hollywood maintains strict regulations to preserve stable housing stock. The Municipal Code prohibits vacation rentals unless aligned with Chapter 5.66 of the West Hollywood Business License Code. Further, Section 19.36.275 of Title 19 mandates a minimum lease term of one year for specific dwelling units.
The proposed ZTA aims to balance these regulations with the evolving needs of the city, extending the minimum lease duration beyond 31 days for certain housing types. Of the 22,984 occupied units in the city, 20% are owner-occupied, presenting opportunities for temporary rental.
The proposal aligns with the recently adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element, emphasizing the quality of housing stock, and supports the Economic Development goals of the City’s General Plan. The amendment recognizes West Hollywood’s role as a regional entertainment destination and seeks to adapt codes and policies to facilitate business growth.
Seems like a reasonable solution.
The City’s needs are not “evolving”, they remain static: we need to provide housing opportunities for people who want to live here long term to create a stable community, not “opportunities” for people in the entertainment industry that are essentially just visiting. Extended stay hotels provide plenty of housing opportunities for the entertainment industry. Ditto for people visiting family members in the hospital. This simply undermines our efforts to create real housing for people with permanent local jobs and is really just a front for “extended stay” Air BnB. I hope the Planning Commission votes this down.
If you are interested in building long term community benefits, that would be bringing money into the city. What we have are long term freeloaders, in the city, rather than short term renters bringing in lots of outside money to the city. We don’t need housing for “local jobs”, workers can live where they can afford, whether in the city or commuting, as many people choose to. People can’t have their cake, and eat it too. If the city removed these highly restrictive restrictions, the fair market would take care of things, and decide who gets to live here, and… Read more »
In case you had not noticed, West Hollywood has built thousands of units of luxury housing over the last couple of years. As much of it is over priced, developers are looking for ways of cashing in on short term rentals rather than lowering the price of their units. Renting for seven days or sixty days is not a way to provide actual housing that people, regardless of their income, a place to live, rather than a place to visit. But everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Call me crazy, but how about the City get out of everyone’s business, and let homeowners, who have invested and risked their own money, get to decide themselves who stays in their property and for whatever length the owner wants. It is unbelievable that this is even being discussed. I mean imagine the outcry if the City came in and said a sandwich shop could sell a maximum of 10 sandwiches per day, or if there was a proclamation that Reiki energy healers, like Sepi, can only heal say 3 people per day. These people don’t respect private property or… Read more »
Like it or not, these type of regulations are what government municipalities are suppose consider. They’re meant to protect community and establish standards. Zoning laws and municipal codes, specially in residential areas, prohibits converting a home into a lumber yard, a gas station or a hotel, nor should any of those things be allowable next to where you live. A good, orderly and livable society is not a free for all (although lately it seems like it)
Now let’s see if the Planning Commission understand it.
I agree one shouldn’t be able to turn their home into a lumber yard. That’s very different from the right to rent out for 7 days, or for as long as the owner wants to a human being. They aren’t protecting the community by punishing the owners and limiting their income. A City should encourage development. Who in their right mind is going to want to build apartments in West Hollywood? They rarely do, and build instead in other cities, hence the housing shortage intentionally designed by the City Council. In other words, they do whatever they can to discourage… Read more »
It continues to be disappointing that you appear to cling to adversarial talking points primarily because you seem to enjoy argument for the sake of it. Many are looking for productive solutions for this city and would hope you could consider that idea.
Let’s stick to lumber yards, and hotels. Turning a residential unit, meant for long term housing and turning it into a short stay hotel is a catastrophic action that destroys housing availability and residential neighborhoods. Plain and simple.
The US has a housing shortage.
It’s happening in other countries, also.
Your free market is a pipe dream. I love regulations.