Smith violates short-term rental law

Anyse Smith violates Palm Desert short-term rental law

PALM DESERT – Anyse Smith, a candidate for Palm Desert City’s 3rd District, is currently violating the city’s short-term rental law, according to Riverside County Code Enforcement.

According to Felisa Cardona, spokeswoman for the Transportation and Land Management Agency of Riverside County, 38-year-old Anyse Smith offered her so-called family home at 71730 Jaguar Way as a vacation rental on Airbnb.com without the required rental license.

According to the Airbnb listing, the 7-bedroom, 11-bed, 5-bath property costs $97,737 per month to rent.

“The property in question is an open and pending case and the property still needs to be inspected before a short-term rental certificate can be issued,” said Felisa Cardona, spokesperson for the Transportation and Land Management Agency of Riverside County. “Code Enforcement has not issued any fines on this property. Code Enforcement is working with property owners to help them bring their properties into compliance with the county’s short-term rental ordinance.”

In July, Cardona confirmed that the department received a complaint for that address at the call center, and a case was opened on July 11. The owners could be served with a cease-and-desist order from the Building Inspectorate requiring them to stop the unlicensed operation, and the property could be fined $1,000 per day, Cardona said.

An STR certificate costs $740, and the annual renewal fee is $540.

Smith is challenging incumbent council member Gina Nestande; Stephen Nelson is also vying for the seat.

Smith did not respond to requests for comment.