Hundreds of illegal bed and breakfasts on Oahu could be shut down under a new proposal.
The City has drafted a bill that should make it easier to enforce the law.
Specifically, the City wants all vacation rental owners to list their permit number on their advertisements.
If you want to operate a bed and breakfast on Oahu outside of resort areas like Waikiki and Ko Olina, you need to have a nonconforming use certificate — basically it’s a permit to operate.
The City handed them out only in 1989, and says there are about 900 to 950 left.
Over the years, new b&bs have been popping up, operating illegally, without a permit.
Larry Bartley has been part of a movement against illegal b&bs and transient vacation units.
"Ground zero is really the North Shore as far as where’s been the most disruptive, Lanikai, North Shore, Sunset area and so forth," said Larry Bartley, Save Oahu’s Neighborhoods.
The City Department of Planning and Permitting has had a difficult time enforcing the law.
That’s why it’s proposing this bill.
"Really the crux of the bill or our proposal, all we’re asking that certain information be required when you advertise for your TVU or b&b," said David Tanoue, City Dept. of Planning and Permitting Director.
Information such as permit number and street address.
If the City sees a website or other advertisement without that information, the operator faces a fine of up to one thousand dollars, plus additional daily fines.
"This should make the any illegal activities harder to do. That’s part of the bottom line," said Tanoue.
"This is what we’ve been waiting for," said Bartley.
Meanwhile, people who have illegal b&bs or TVUs are against the bill.
The Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association took out this newspaper ad saying the bill will "close all bed and breakfast and transient vacation rentals on Oahu."
If the bill passes…
"Well we’re going to see a real downturn economically. It isn’t just the most obvious, the restaurants and gift stores, it goes beyond that. So many people are getting some revenue or jobs from us," said Angie Larson, Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association President.
Larson estimates there are about 2300 to 2400 b&bs and TVUs operating without a permit on Oahu.
And she says majority of them do pay taxes on their un-permitted businesses.
"It’s not intended to shut down all b&bs as the ads were saying. It will just assist us in enforcement and will protect the consumer who’s looking for a place to stay and who would rather stay in a licensed establishment," said Tanoue.
The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on this bill tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the Mission Memorial hearings room.
After listening to all the public testimony, the Commission will then make a recommendation to the City Council.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
