This chapter establishes development standards and provides
a registration process for the City to track and enforce the regulations
for short-term rentals. The purpose of this chapter is to preserve
residential character and establish operating standards to reduce
potential noise, parking, traffic, property maintenance and safety
impacts on adjacent neighbors.
(Ord. 2022-01 § 3)
For the purpose of this chapter, and except where otherwise
expressly defined in this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings provided in this section. Where words and
phrases are not expressly defined under this section, they shall be
construed as their ordinary meaning within the context which they
are used:
"Code"
means the Plymouth Municipal Code.
"Guest" or "guests"
means the individual or individual(s) occupying the short-term
rental for the purposes of staying overnight.
"Local contact person"
means an individual who is available by telephone on a 24
hour basis and who maintains the ability to be on site within 20 minutes
and who has access and authority to assume management of the short-term
rental. An agent or professional property management company that
meets the availability requirements can serve as the local contact
person.
"On-street parking"
means any legal on street parking area adjacent to the short-term
rental parcel.
"Operator"
means any and all of the following: (1) the person who is
a legal owner of a short-term rental; or (2) any manager, agent, representative
or other similar person acting under the authority or at the direction
of the owner or other operator of a short-term rental.
"Short-term rental"
means a residential dwelling, including, without limitation,
single-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling unit, studio, condominium,
townhouse, duplex, guesthouse, bedroom within an existing residential
unit, or junior accessory dwelling unit, rented for the purpose of
continuous overnight lodging for a period of not less than one night
and not more than 30 days.
(Ord. 2022-01 § 3)
All short-term rentals shall comply with the standards of this
section at all times and shall not generate other potential disturbances
which may disrupt the peace, safety, and general welfare of the neighborhoods
in which they are located.
A. Operator
Responsibilities. Operator and any local contact person shall respond
in a reasonable and timely manner, to ensure that every occupant of
the short-term rental parcel does not create or contribute to unreasonable
use of the property, cause unreasonable noise or disturbance, engage
in disorderly or unlawful conduct, or overcrowd the parcel. The operator
shall inform guests that they must not violate the standards of this
chapter. The operator shall be responsible for taking any action necessary
to ensure that guests abide by the terms of this chapter and other
applicable provisions of this Code.
B. Local
Contact Person. A local contact person shall be available by telephone
when contacted by the City's employees or agents or the short-term
rental's guest(s) on a 24 hour basis. A local contact person shall
be physically present at the short-term rental within 20 minutes of
contact. Upon receiving a call or complaint about physical conditions
or circumstances that constitute an immediate threat to the public
health and safety, the local contact person shall immediately contact
the appropriate law enforcement, fire, or other authority. Upon receiving
any call or complaint about the short-term rental, the local contact
person shall cause the discontinuance of any violation of this Chapter
as soon as practical.
C. Maximum
Number of Occupants. The maximum number of overnight guests for a
short-term rental shall not exceed two adults per bedroom, plus two
additional adults. (Minor children are not counted towards capacity.)
Additional guests allowed between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 pm, total number
of additional guests cannot exceed triple the allowed overnight guests.
D. Parking.
On-site parking shall be provided for each short-term rental guest
to the extent on-site parking is possible on the parcel in which a
short-term rental is located. Off-site parking is allowed only on
legal on-street parking spaces adjacent to the parcel.
E. Special
Events. Any event exceeding the daytime occupancy limit must obtain
a temporary use permit 45 days prior to the event.
F. Trash
Collection. Except for trash properly deposited in trash collection
receptacles, accumulation of trash and debris outside of a short-term
rental at any time is prohibited. Each short-term rental shall obtain
solid waste and recyclable collection and disposal service from the
City's franchisee.
G. Smoke
Alarms. Smoke alarms, in good working order, shall be installed at
a minimum in each bedroom, and at least one alarm on every level of
the short-term rental, including basements and habitable attics.
H. Carbon
Monoxide Alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms, in good working order, shall
be installed in accordance with current
California Building Code requirements,
and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
I. Fire
Extinguisher and Ash Can. Each short-term rental shall be equipped
with one five-pound fire extinguisher, type 3-A:40-B:C, installed
at a readily available location near the kitchen. If the short-term
rental has more than one level, an extinguisher must be mounted within
each level. Fire extinguishers shall be inspected annually by a certified
professional to ensure the extinguishers are in good working order.
Each short-term rental with a wood-burning fireplace or woodstove
shall be equipped with a metal container at least five gallons in
size with a tight-fitting lid, which shall be clearly labeled for
ash disposal.
J. Visible
Address. Each short-term rental shall have an address identification.
The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position
that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Whenever
the address on the short-term rental unit will not be clearly visible
from the street or access road fronting the property, the address
shall also be placed at the public street or access road in a manner
which is clearly visible from both directions of travel on the frontage
road or street. Address identification characters shall contrast with
their background and conform to the minimum size requirements of the
California Fire Code, as amended from time to time, which currently
requires numbers four inches tall with a minimum stroke thickness
of 1/2 inch. A short-term rental in a condominium building that does
not have an individual address may utilize the condominium building
address and shall clearly identify each unit number.
K. Inspections.
The operator of each short-term rental shall allow City staff to conduct
an inspection prior to the issuance of Short-Term Rental Use Permit
and any time thereafter upon request by the City.
(Ord. 2022-01 § 3)