Cathedral City tightens short-term rental regulations

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Prompted by complaints from residents, another Coachella Valley city has moved to tighten regulations on short-term vacation rentals.

The Desert Sun newspaper (http://desert.sn/2nrJCvA) reports Cathedral City leaders voted 5-0 Wednesday for a measure that limits the type of homes that can be used as short-term vacation rentals, barring apartments from such use. It requires a second vote, likely next month.

Under the measure, property owners could no longer remove fences between units to create a so-called “compound” effect.

A yearly fee for a vacation rental permit rises from $60 to $415 to cover city administrative costs, and the fine for operating a vacation rental without documentation would reach $5,000.

Residents who make false complaints against vacation rentals also would be fined.

Neighbouring Palm Springs also has tightened vacation rental regulations.

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Information from: The Desert Sun, http://www.desertsun.com