Without a doubt, standing at the epicenter of the Coronavirus is the travel industry. Airlines, hotels, and a fleet of offshoot industries are now coping with the virus’s severe downstream effects.
One particularly curious case study, however, is the evolving interaction between the Coronavirus and short-term rentals. At first thought, a business model that champions the democratization of lodging seems like a virus’s best friend — and one notably at risk.
However, the impact of the Coronavirus on global short-term rental markets is becoming significantly more complicated with a good deal of nuances, such as temporary bans on Short Term Rentals (STRs) that have been instituted in several markets such as Newport Beach and Corona del Mar.
Markets Explicitly Banning STRs:
Newport Beach (Council hearing 4/3) - Bans STRs until May 20. Usual exemptions. Current occupants may stay. (City release)
Deschutes County, OR (county outside Bend where all but one of our Bend properties are located) (4/1) - Issued ban in place until May 15 in all unincorporated areas except for essential workers/health professionals.
Order from County Board of Commissioners.
Sunriver HOA
Indio (3/30) - Cannot use STRs for anything not in Governor’s March 19 Order. Exceptions for medical staff.
City of Oceanside - 3/31 email. Clarifies the Governor’s order that STRs are only to be used for essential workers (no link available). No end date to this will hinge on Governor’s action.
3/26 - City Council also voted to halt evictions temporarily.
Florida Gov. Executive Order 20-87 - (3/27) Bans STRs in the entire state until 4/10. Governor issued stay-at-home order on 4/1.
City of La Quinta - Executive Order 7 - March 26 - $5000 fine + STR license is suspended for one year. Usual exceptions + current guests can see out existing reservation.
The city will suspend the order upon direction from the CA Dept. of Public Health and the Riverside County Public Health Officer.
Summit County, UT (Park City) - March 25 - issued shelter-in-place order. Section 8 of the order directs visitors to return home no later than 4/1/20. Order in place until 5/1/20—exceptions for essential services in the order.
Summit County CO (where Breckenridge is located) (3/24) - all STRs must be vacated until April 30, exceptions more broadly refer to local workers and anyone experiencing symptoms or under quarantine or isolation order.
Rancho Mirage (3/23-6/1) - $5000 fine + no exceptions.
Town of Truckee (3/24) - no fine or timeframe specified, usual conditions around not operating unless used for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, such as housing critical infrastructure workers. (Nevada County order).
Placer County (3/24 order from Health Officer) - Clarifies Governor’s stay-at-home order to include STRs except under the following circumstances:
To provide COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures (for example, isolation and quarantine or the housing of displaced persons or the homeless);
To provide housing for essential critical infrastructure workers; and
For use by the property owner and his/her immediate family members.
Palm Springs (3/24 - 4/30) - $5000/ $10,000/ $25,000 - STRs and hotels may not operate unless used for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, such as housing critical infrastructure workers.
Longer rentals of over 30 days of such facilities are prohibited unless the purpose falls within a COVID-19 exception.
Riverside County (3/30) - Amended Order on 3/30 puts fines of $1,000/day for violations. End date of 4/30 pending further order.
Riverside County (3/27) - Official notice from County Health Officer stating that STRs can only be used to house the homeless, essential workers, house COVID-19 workers, etc. In effect indefinitely. (press release)
Riverside County (3/24) - no fine or timeframe specified, usual conditions around not operating unless used for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, such as housing critical infrastructure workers.
Riverside county uses this list for essential workers provided by the state - references this in the 3/24 order.
Sonoma County (3/31) - Shelter-in-place order extended to May 3.
Sonoma County (3/17- 4/7) - (link to FAQ about Shelter in place) - STRs only allowed to “provide shelter for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals, including individuals needing housing to ensure adequate social distancing; housing necessary for an essential business to operate (i.e., housing traveling nurses).
(note: definition of essential works in CA here)