Newbury Park neighbors push for action on short-term rentals

A quiet cul-de-sac in Newbury Park has become the epicenter of a mounting debate over short-term rentals (STRs) in the 805 region. Frustrated by years of disruptive weekends, local residents are urging Thousand Oaks city officials to step in and implement stricter regulations for vacation rentals.

The push for action highlights a growing tension in residential communities across the Central Coast, where the proliferation of platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo is increasingly colliding with suburban quietude. According to market data from AirDNA, there are currently around 243 active short-term rentals operating within Thousand Oaks.

"The Airbnb From Hell"

The catalyst for the current push is a specific rental property located near the end of a normally peaceful Newbury Park street. According to the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park), residents have been dealing with a not-so-quiet issue for several years.

Scott Bell, a retiree and 35-year resident of Thousand Oaks, brought his frustrations directly to the City Council during a July 7 meeting. Speaking via Zoom during the public comment period, Bell described living across the street from what he called “the Airbnb from hell.” He reported that the home plays host to late-night parties nearly every weekend and noted a persistent smell of marijuana. The situation recently escalated when short-term renters damaged both his and his wife’s vehicles in a hit-and-run over a three-week span.

Christopher Hicks, who lives next door to the rental, echoed Bell's concerns. He expressed deep frustration over what he perceives as a lack of empathy and unwillingness from the city to address the problem, noting that the residential family neighborhood is subjected to loud noise and unruly guests treating the street "like a vacation home."

The Limits of Local Law Enforcement

Despite the severity of the neighbors' complaints, local law enforcement's ability to intervene is somewhat constrained. Thousand Oaks Police Chief Jeremy Paris explained that officers can issue citations to renters if they violate the city's noise ordinance or other municipal regulations. However, this requires neighbors to be proactive.

"If the neighbors aren't okay with it, they can request that we come out," Paris told the Acorn. If deputies are called, neighbors must be willing to sign a complaint—effectively making a citizen's arrest—before an arrest can be made. Furthermore, some of the grievances reported by the Newbury Park residents, such as the smell of marijuana wafting over backyard walls, do not constitute legal violations, leaving deputies' hands tied. Overall, Chief Paris noted that STRs have not posed widespread major problems for the police department.

For residents like Bell and Hicks, issuing a citation after the damage is already done is an insufficient deterrent.

A Cooperative Owner, But a Persistent Problem

The conflict in this Newbury Park neighborhood lacks a traditional villain. Both Bell and Hicks openly credited the property owner for actively trying to cooperate and mitigate the issues. The neighbors have the owner's direct phone number and use it whenever renters become unruly.

In an effort to deter party-seekers, the landlord has reportedly raised the rental price and increased the minimum stay requirement. The property's Airbnb listing explicitly states backyard quiet hours and strictly prohibits events, parties, or "kickbacks of any size." The owner told the Acorn that he does his best to vet guests to ensure compliance. Unfortunately, despite these good-faith efforts by the property owner, the weekend disruptions have continued.

Looking Toward Simi Valley's Playbook

Rather than calling for an outright ban on short-term rentals—like those enacted in Southern California cities such as Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Santa Monica, as well as closer to home in Moorpark and Ojai—the Newbury Park residents are advocating for tighter operational regulations.

Specifically, they are pointing to a recently approved ordinance in Simi Valley as a model for Thousand Oaks to follow. Under the Simi Valley regulations, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, short-term rental operators will be subject to sweeping new rules. The ordinance requires city permits, annual property inspections, and roughly $741 in annual fees.

The Simi Valley rules also mandate strict operational guidelines: a 30-minute response time for complaints, neighbor notification for unhosted rentals, a prohibition on on-street parking, the use of noise-monitoring devices, and a strict ban on parties. To prevent commercial investors from dominating the market, the city limits each owner or legal entity to a single STR permit. Apartments and properties with existing code violations are entirely disqualified.

Compliance in Simi Valley will be verified through Ventura County tax records. The city has contracted with HdL Companies to administer tax collection and track down noncompliant operators.

What Comes Next for Thousand Oaks?

Currently, the city of Thousand Oaks is engaging directly with the impacted residents. City spokesperson Alexandra South confirmed that the code enforcement team and the Thousand Oaks Police Department are actively looking into Bell's complaints. However, when asked whether the city plans to consider broader STR regulations, South stated she could not speculate on whether the issue would become a future City Council agenda item.

In the meantime, Bell and Hicks are not waiting passively for a bureaucratic shift. Bell is currently rallying neighborhood residents to sign a formal letter urging the Thousand Oaks City Council to move forward with comprehensive short-term rental regulations. As the 805 region continues to navigate the complexities of short-term housing, the outcome in Newbury Park could signal a broader shift in how local municipalities balance property rights with neighborhood tranquility.