Starting in 2022 it will be legal in Manteca for owners to use their homes as short term rentals.

But they must secure business licenses, collect\ the city’s 12 percent room tax, pay 1 percent short term rental fee, and adhere to a series of regulations.

And if someone is caught using their home as a short term rental without a permit or ignore the city regulations they will be subject to fines starting at $1,500.

The City Council Tuesday adopted the second reading of the ordinance governing short term rentals. That means the rules will go into effect next month.

Restrictions the council imposed include:

*banning rentals to anyone under the age of 25.

*entire homes or units are precluded from being rented out.

*only two rooms may be rented out in a home or a unit.

*owners must utilize off-street parking and allow only two vehicles per booking.

*quiet hours are from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m.

*there must be 100 yard separation from the property line between short term rentals.

*no parties, weddings, social events and/or social gatherings are allowed.

*all owners must have an agent/representative available at all times to address concerns.

Short term rentals such as those offered on Airbnb can only be rented out for 30 days or less. The rules being out in place that restrict the use of homes as short term rentals are designed to preserve the character of residential neighborhoods.

Starting Jan. 1, 2022 state law allows cities putting short term rental ordinances in place to have fines of $1,500 for the first offense, $3,000 for the second offense within a calendar year, and $5,000 for the third and subsequent offenses within the first year of a violation.

That means unlike with other zoning code violations that the state caps the ability of cities to assess fees for people who violate them, any ordinance the city adopts could have real teeth if the city moves to enforce it.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com