Short-term rentals may continue to expand in La Quinta, as efforts to ban future vacation rentals there failed in a vote Wednesday.
Results reported by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Wednesday evening showed the “no” vote on Measure A increased by 126 votes, or 7,155 compared to 7,029 in favor of the measure. Thousands of votes remain to be counted.
Measure A, which would phase out short-term vacation rentals by the end of 2024 in La Quinta except in certain exempt areas, has been at the root of a major debate over the role of vacation rentals in the city driven by the tourism
On the one hand, short-term rental owners say it’s their right to rent out their properties. On the other side are some of their neighbors, who claim that these rental houses disturb the neighborhoods and make it difficult for the residents’ quality of life.
If Measure A passes, La Quinta would join other Coachella Valley cities, such as Rancho Mirage, that have banned most or all short-term rentals.