Let’s work together to find a solution that benefits everyone!!

Big Bear Lake has recently proposed a new short-term vacation rental ordinance that fundamentally changes how owners are permitted to manage their short-term rental properties. The proposed ordinance would effectively create a management monopoly dominated by large management companies rather than management by individual homeowners or small, local companies. This forced restructuring will necessarily increase costs, which will have downstream effects including dramatically increased rental rates throughout Big Bear Lake which will ultimately impact the ability of families to afford a vacation in our community. As the primary industry for Big Bear Lake diminishes, so will other industries- food & beverage, services, retail and others. The domino effect from this will no doubt be widespread, impacting not only those in Big Bear Lake, but surrounding communities as well.

Everyone - residents, short-term vacation owners, local property management companies, local business owners and Big Bear Lake’s local government officials recognize that the increase in visitors in the past several years has created challenges in Big Bear Lake that have not yet been solved. These issues have been exacerbated recently due to the increased number of visitors due to the COVID pandemic. The fundamental problem with the proposed ordinance it seeks to take away the power of those best situated to help solve these problems and decide how best to manage their properties: Individual property owners. Instead, it calls for short term rentals to be turned over to large management companies.

Neither short-term rental owners, local management companies, nor residents were consulted prior to the drafting of this proposed ordinance. Typically, a public forum is held prior to an ordinance being drafted and released to ensure it reflects mutual interests of all parties that will be affected by such an ordinance. This did not occur. We are asking that the Big Bear Lake City Council push pause on this new ordinance and consult with all the stakeholders in our community: Local residents, property management companies, the City of Big Bear Lake, AND short-term vacation rental owners. If, after such consultation, it is necessary to revise or redraft our local ordinances, the city council will be in a much better position to do it in a way that works for EVERYONE in Big Bear Lake and actually addresses the problems in our community in a way that is likely to actually solve them. Stop the Proposed New Vacation Rental Ordinance for Big Bear Lake!