Our coastal villages each have a unique history and character that draws people to build their lives here. Though the stories of how and why vary, a common thread is the sense of community, whether for singles starting out, families raising children, workers in local businesses, emergency personnel, landscape and agricultural workers, teachers or retirees. The foundation of community is access to stable and affordable housing—an opportunity that is becoming increasingly limited, in part due to escalating short-term rental activity.

An S.T.R. is a residential property rented for 30 days or less. Ever since online rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO exploded in popularity, S.T.R.s have become an attractive profit generator for corporate and individual investors in West Marin residential zones. Marin County’s 2018 S.T.R. licensing ordinance did not keep pace with the growth of online S.T.R.s. Countywide, 71 percent of S.T.R.s are located in West Marin.

In May 2022, the county implemented a two-year moratorium on new S.T.R. licenses in West Marin. Last year, the county’s Community Development Agency began reaching out to S.T.R. stakeholders. These include homeowners who rent part of their home or property in the short term to make ends meet; realtors, investors and property managers who profit from the S.T.R. market through increased property values; and long-term homeowners and renters whose presence contributes to sustaining viable communities. 

The agency has also been assessing how other coastal communities in California and elsewhere are managing the growing S.T.R. real estate investment model. On Monday, June 12 at 1 p.m., agency staff will discuss their findings with the Marin County Planning Commission and the public at the Civic Center. To participate in this conversation about potential new S.T.R. regulations, search “Marin Planning Commission Hearings,” then select “June 12,” then “Agenda,” then “Staff Report.”

Our group, the West Marin Residents for Housing, is part of a growing community sector concerned that S.T.R.s are not being sufficiently or fairly regulated. Corporate and individual investors are able to pay inflated market prices for homes due to the expectation of S.T.R. income, resulting in the shrinking availability of affordable homes for long-term residents.

We acknowledge that S.T.R.s, coupled with commercially licensed hotels and motels, provide important access for coastal visitors. In many cases, they also provide vital support for long-term community members who rely on the income to remain in their homes. Yet the percentage of S.T.R.s in our villages is out of balance with the number of houses available for full-time residents. 

Currently, S.T.R.s represent 1 percent of parcels in East Marin communities compared to 16 percent in the coastal zone. We all know renters displaced from their homes because residential properties have been converted to S.T.R.s. Rentals are hard to find at any price; as a result, school populations have plummeted, jobs that serve our communities are hard to fill, and local workers commute many hours a day.

The California Coastal Commission has recognized the impact of S.T.R.s on housing availability in coastal communities and has supported ordinances limiting their expansion. The reality is that a growing housing crisis in both affordability and availability has been exacerbated by the S.T.R. market. It is critical that the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors implement policies that provide limits on S.T.R. growth.

We have exhaustively researched what other coastal communities in the state have done to address the S.T.R. surge, and we have developed a set of proposed regulations that we have reviewed with Supervisor Dennis Rodoni and C.D.A. staff. 

We propose that: 1) an S.T.R. license only be granted to an individual or family, not an L.L.C., investment group, time-share group or consortium of any kind in residential zones; 2) only one S.T.R. license be granted per property owner in the coastal zone; 3) the number of S.T.R. licenses be capped specific to each village; 4) property owners host or designate a local property manager; and 5) licensees meet the same health and safety standards as commercial inns, hotels and motels.

To see our full set of proposed regulations and to join our efforts to secure a balanced S.T.R. ordinance, please visit westmarinresidentsforhousing.org.

This is a call to action. We understand and respect the range of voices and opinions. Let’s talk. Many of us know local property owners who are invested in community life and operate an S.T.R. that enables them to stay in their homes. We want to come together to advocate for balanced regulations. 

Please come to the June 12 workshop (there is no Zoom option) or submit written comments to [email protected] by Friday. West Marin has come together on many issues. This one is front and center, and the county needs our input. The resulting ordinance will have a lasting impact on the community we love.

Please send an email to the Marin County Planning Commission staff at [email protected] by this Friday, June 9. And visit our website to learn who we are, what we have learned and more specifically what we are advocating.

Maureen Cornelia, an Inverness resident, and David Kimball, a Bolinas resident, are members of West Marin Residents for Housing. They are joined by Chris Harrington and Harriet Moss from Stinson Beach; Jorge Martinez and Andrew Zlot from Point Reyes Station; Eoin McMillian, Leila Monroe and Don Smith from Bolinas; and Susan Scott of Inverness.