Pismo Beach leaders are placing a moratorium on new short-term rental permits amid complaints for residents who say the occupants are a nuisance and don't follow local rules.
There are currently 28 STRs in the city, but residents continue to file complaints about noise and not following the rules. At its June 21 meeting, the City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to stop issuing STR permits until they can come up with more strict rules for enforcement.
Councilmember Sheila Blake said even the threat of high fines doesn't seem to solve the issue.
"I'd like to know where the hell we went wrong?" she said. "We got a great town here, and all of a sudden it's so attractive to everyone that they don't care how much they have to pay for a penalty. It happens everywhere. ... They will pay anything just to have use of the house."
