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- Citing resident complaints about the car-rental app Turo, the Palm Springs City Council passed a new parking measure.
- This ordinance lets cars be ticketed, following resident complaints that cars being rented on Turo are taking up street parking.
- Car owners can still rent their vehicles through Turo at their own homes or on airport property, with limits.
It may be harder to rent a Ferrari F8 Spider in Palm Springs, at least if you plan on using the app Turo.
The Palm Springs City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance banning the sale and rental of vehicles on most public streets during a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 26. The city isn’t banning Turo, but rather regulating where rentals can happen. They will still be allowed at Palm Springs International Airport, with limits.
Turo, which advertises dozens of vehicles available for rent in the Coachella Valley, works as a “peer-to-peer” app similar to Uber or Lyft. But instead of a stranger driving you somewhere in their car, the stranger gives you the keys and lets you drive the car — for a price, of course.
Palm Springs’ new law is meant to address growing concerns among residents that cars being rented on Turo are taking up street parking, specifically in neighborhoods around the airport.
“Residents and staff have reported ongoing challenges in addressing vehicle parking patterns associated with vehicle commercial activity, including circumstances where vehicles are moved short distances to avoid citation,” the City Manager’s Office said in a memo submitted to the council as part of the meeting’s agenda.
The new ordinance allows the city’s code enforcement officers to fine the owners of vehicles that are left in public rights-of-way for more than 72 hours.
“If a vehicle is left for more than 72 hours within a city right-of-way, it is presumed to be being used for purposes of sale or rental,” City Attorney Jeff Ballinger said during the meeting.
Fines for a first offense will be $100, while a third offense could be $500.
Vehicles do not need to have signs or other markings to be fined. A vehicle left on the street for less than 72 hours can also be fined, if the city can prove it’s there to be sold or rented.
What is Turo?
The online car rental marketplace Turo allows owners to rent their vehicles directly to customers, much like Airbnb allows homeowners to rent out their homes. Primarily used through the app, Turo allows drivers to pick up their vehicles at a destination selected by the owner.
This can cause some problems, as some vehicles may be parked on the side of the road for unknown lengths of time.
“We’re getting reports about Turo activity all over the city,” Councilmember Grace Garner said during the meeting.
The Palm Springs airport allows some Turo owners to use its pay parking lots to transfer vehicles to renters. According to its website, users are free to coordinate with vehicle owners to pick up and drop off rentals in an airport parking lot or curbside.
That will continue to be allowed under the new ordinance.
Turo advertises itself as a way to “skip the rental counter” at airports. Its website shows dozens of vehicle models available to rent in Palm Springs.
Some of those rentals appear on a map in residential neighborhoods close to the airport, potentially taking up public parking areas.
Is Turo still legal in Palm Springs? Where can I use it?
The city’s ordinance allows for vehicle owners to sell or rent their cars within a tenth of a mile of their residence. The vehicle must be registered to the address at which it is being sold or rented.
During the meeting, councilmembers discussed creating a permitting framework for Turo, much like the city’s vacation rental ordinance.
Although the council seemed enthusiastic over the potential for a car-rental permitting system, it’s unclear at this time when that will be brought forward for review.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at [email protected].
