Long Beach Woman Fights to Restrict Short-Term Rentals, Citing Safety Concerns

Christina Nigrelli, a resident of Long Beach, California, has joined forces with other citizens to petition the city council to ban unhosted short-term rentals (STRs) due to concerns over noise, drug use, and safety issues caused by unruly tenants.

Christina Nigrelli, a resident of Long Beach, California, has had enough. For months, she has endured sleepless nights, loud parties, and drug use by tenants in an unhosted short-term rental (STR) next door.

Nigrelli, co-founder of the Long Beach Safe Neighborhood Coalition, is now leading a movement to restrict such rentals. She and other residents are petitioning the city council to ban unhosted STRs, arguing that they disrupt neighborhoods and pose safety concerns.

"I haven't had very many good nights' sleep since February when it opened up next to me," Nigrelli told Fox News Digital. "The guests come and go at all hours, slamming car doors and gates. They're not allowed to smoke in the house, but they smoke whatever they want in the driveway under my bedroom windows."

Nigrelli's concerns are shared by many Long Beach residents. Nine neighborhoods have filed petitions to require STR hosts to be on site or risk losing their license.

"This ordinance and everything feels like they're not in favor of their constituents, the residents," Nigrelli said. "It's really for all those that want to have short-term rentals."

Some STR renters have expressed concerns that a ban could impact their income. However, Nigrelli believes that residential neighborhoods should not be used for commercial purposes.

"This is a residential neighborhood," Nigrelli said. "If you want to run a business, go run it where businesses belong."

Nigrelli's petition is part of a growing movement across the country to restrict short-term rentals. She has received support from other states such as North Carolina and Florida, and has been in contact with neighborhood coalitions nationwide.

"Prevention is what we should all focus on," Nigrelli said. "There shouldn't be any challenges. It's a lack of enforcement and infrastructure."

Nigrelli is still awaiting the city's response to her petition. However, one neighborhood petition in College Estates has already been successful, passing new restrictions on STRs.

"I don't think it's a unique problem to Long Beach," Nigrelli said. "It's certainly not unique in the United States. I think it's a bigger problem everywhere."