Public asks Buellton to reconsider blanket short-term rental ban; council asks staff to review

During public comment at the May 14 meeting, resident Scott Aiken urged the council to revise the city's total ban on short-term rentals (citing municipal code section 19.02.150) and to consider targeted rules and safeguards to prevent party-house problems while allowing small, responsible rentals.

Aiken told councilors he supports reasonable guardrails and volunteered to work with staff to draft policy that would allow renting a detached accessory unit to one or two weekend guests. Several council members said they had not received many citizen requests to lift the ban; some favored keeping the existing restriction to protect long-term rental stock. The city attorney said staff would need council consensus to prepare a formal review and return with options.

Council asked staff to review the ordinance and return as a business item if community interest grows; no formal vote was taken on policy change at the meeting.