Proposal Would Cap Length of Hotel Stays

The City Council tonight will consider an ordinance that would limit the time guests could stay in hotels to 180 days within a one-year period.

In March, the Camarillo council proposed limiting hotel and motel stays to 60 days. After an outcry by innkeepers, however, officials extended the proposed limitation to six months.

Officials sought the time cap after innkeepers began coming forward with plans to open “extended-stay” facilities, said the city’s planning and community development director, Tony Boden. Such hotels would include rooms that are equipped with kitchens and are designed for longer stays.

Without a cap on the length of stays, these hotels could become equivalent to apartment complexes, city officials feared.

In previous council discussions, some officials said the proposed ordinance was intended to allow the city to collect more hotel taxes.

A state law requires guests to pay hotel taxes for the first 30 days of their stays. If forced to re-register, visitors would have to continue paying taxes after 30 days.

But Boden said the proposed ordinance would not require guests to re-register.

“Increasing taxes was never our intention,” Boden said. “The only reason we are doing this is to address extended-stay facilities and to make sure hotels don’t become apartment buildings.”

Hotel owners feared losing long-term guests, who may include disaster victims, new residents waiting to move into their homes and those on temporary work assignments.

Before the council votes on the matter, a public hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers at 601 Carmen Drive.