Council Recap: Short-term rentals now prohibited in Lakewood

Published on April 26, 2023

Council Recap:  Short-term rentals now prohibited in Lakewood

At their Tuesday evening meeting, the Lakewood City Council passed a city ordinance prohibiting the short-term rental of homes or rooms in homes in Lakewood. Short-term is defined as less than 31 days and includes rentals through services like VRBO and Airbnb. Residents are still able to rent out rooms or entire homes for 31 consecutive days or more.

In 2018, the city passed an ordinance laying out rules for short-term rentals, including requirements that property owners live on site, get city permits and pay occupancy taxes like hotels do. However, since that time and especially over the past year, neighbors have reported numerous incidents of property owners not living on site and allowing short-term renters to disturb the neighborhood with parties and loud noise late into the night. In addition, very few property owners with listings on VRBO and Airbnb have been following city rules about permits and occupancy taxes.

The new Lakewood ordinance takes effect on May 25 (30 days after its passage by the council). Violations of the ordinance will be punished with administrative citations of up to $5,000. If residents notice violations of the ordinance, please contact Service1@lakewoodcity.org or call city staff at 562-866-9771, ext. 2140.

In other action, the City Council approved moving ahead on three park and facility improvement projects that will be funded by Measure L, the local funding measure approved by Lakewood residents in 2020. 

The projects passed last night by the council include:

• Repairs and renovation of four bridges that park patrons use to cross flood control channels at Rynerson Park.
• The replacement and modernization of the lighting system and ceiling in the main ballroom at The Centre, visited by thousands of local residents each year for wedding receptions, birthdays, conferences and special events.
• Preparation of the bid package and related planning work for electrical, HVAC and roof renovations and improvements at six Lakewood park buildings and city facilities.

“Measure L funds been hard at work since they were authorized by Lakewood voters in 2020,” said City Manager Thaddeus McCormack, “paying for extra Deputy Sheriff patrols and other public safety improvements, along with repairs and renovations at some of our aging city facilities. So these new projects are the latest in our continuous work to implement what we promised to do with Measure L.”

“We take Measure L and the funds raised by it very seriously at the city,” said McCormack. “It’s part of our solemn duty to our residents to watch over those funds…and all city funds…very carefully and to make sure that they are used efficiently and effectively to keep Lakewood in good shape, now and into the future.”