Wyatt Davis
Sports Editor
Manhattan beach is weighing a massive change in its historic short-term rental policy leading up to the 2028 Olympics and 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a 3-2 vote, City Council began to draft a city ordinance that would temporarily allow STRs city-wide during these events. This proposal will be different then the city’s current rules, which permits STRs only in certain Coastal Zones, while banned in all residential neighbourhoods.
City officials state that this ordinance would be only during a small window, before and after the World Cup as the demand for housing will be exponential. Many people are in support of this due to the large number of fans coming to support needing places to stay. One benefit from this would be that the city of Manhattan Beach could collect Transient Occupancy Tax revenue. On the other hand, this change in policy would lead to increased traffic, lack of parking, and may pave the way for more and more looser regulations.
“This is a way to monitor and accurately enforce,” said Council Member Amy Howorth in a Patch article. “We should not miss this opportunity, because we’re going to get run over if we don’t.”
This debate has some conflict over preserving the small time feel of Manhattan Beach. Residents who spoke, point to the original ban from 2015 due to the neighborhood disruptions. Some of the Council Members who voted against this change state that the economic benefits may be over exaggerated and the enforcement of the new rules would be almost impossible to monitor. City council are expected to return with a draft of the ordinance with a timeline, regulations on permits, and how they will enforce it.
“Temporary somehow manages to turn into permanent a lot of times,” said resident Heather Kim on Manhattan Beach News. “Once you open the door, it becomes harder to protect the character of our neighborhoods.”
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