Short-term rentals are now illegal in Saratoga

"The law that the council approved does not allow for short-term rentals of residences, like those listed on Airbnb or VRBO. The council also set penalties for people found to be listing their homes for short-term tenants. A first warning would cost $1,500, which would increase to $3,000 at the second warning, a third warning would incur a fine of $5,000. The law also allows the city to request data from websites for short-term rental listings for enforcement reasons."

"Community development director Bryan Swanson estimated that permitting short-term rentals could raise between $60,000 and $80,000 each year. However, the city may only see half of that revenue due to enforcement costs, city manager Matt Morley said. Swanson said it may cost $5,000-$10,000 annually to pay for a tech company to scour the internet for listings in Saratoga. Swanson said putting the prohibition into law would give either city code enforcement staff or officers with the county sheriff's department the ability to penalize rental operators."

"A handful of residents spoke up against allowing short-term rentals, citing safety concerns due to parking, trash and noise. The law passed in a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Belal Aftab dissenting. Councilmember Yan Zhao proposed the motion to ban short-term rentals, and Vice Mayor Tina Walia seconded it. Zhao said short-term rentals do not fit with Saratoga's character, which mostly made up of single-family homes meant for long-term living. She also said she was concerned about safety, noise and quality of life."

On Jan. 21, the Saratoga City Council explicitly outlawed short-term residential rentals, including listings on Airbnb and VRBO. The ordinance sets escalating fines: $1,500 for a first warning, $3,000 for a second, and $5,000 for a third. The law authorizes the city to request listing data from rental websites for enforcement. Community Development Director Bryan Swanson estimated permitting rentals could raise $60,000–$80,000 annually, but the city manager said enforcement could reduce revenue by about half. Swanson estimated $5,000–$10,000 per year to hire a tech company to identify listings. The measure passed 4–1, with one dissent.

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