City forms Vacation Rental Advisory Panel
There are an estimated 200-300 vacation rental units in Paso Robles, city says 
–At Tuesday night’s Paso Robles City Council meeting, the council directed the formation of a Vacation/Short Term Rental Advisory Panel who will be made up of both vacation rental operators and neighbors.
The growing popularity of short-term rental websites such as Airbnb and VRBO has grown this market in Paso Robles to an estimated 200-300 units. Only about 60 of these have city business licenses and pay Transient Occupancy Tax to the city, according to Assistant City Manager Meg Williamson. “The need to manage the impacts on neighborhoods and to create a level playing field among all operators has come to the forefront,” said Williamson.
The group’s mission will be to work collaboratively with city staff to find common ground on some of the issues related to short-term rentals, helping to balance the need to protect residential neighborhoods while promoting tourism and economic development. The work of the group is expected to last approximately four months, at which time they will make policy recommendations to the city council for their consideration, Williamson said.
The council vote on this item was 4-0 since Councilman Steve Gregory recused himself based on his ownership of vacation rental property in Paso Robles.
