A. After the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council as described by Chapter 2.36 SMC, it is unlawful for any person, business or other entity to rent or lease or offer to rent or lease any housing unit, of any kind, for a price of more than 10 percent above the price charged for that housing unit immediately prior to a Federal, State, or City declaration of a state of emergency in the City of Sebastopol or in Sonoma County as a whole, unless that person, business or entity can prove that the increase in price is directly attributable to additional costs for labor or materials used to provide the rental unit, in which case, the price shall not be more than 10 percent above the total cost of providing that rental unit.

B. After the declaration of a local emergency by the City Council as described by Chapter 2.36 SMC, it is unlawful for any person, business or other entity to rent or lease a hotel or motel room, or other short-term rental unit for more than the 10 percent above the hotel, motel, or other short-term rental’s regular rates, as advertised immediately prior to a Federal, State, or City proclamation of the existing of a state of emergency in the City of Sebastopol or in Sonoma County as a whole, unless that person, business or other entity can prove that the increase in price is directly attributable to additional costs imposed on it for goods or labor used in the business, to seasonal adjustments in rates that are regularly scheduled, or to previously contracted rates. (Ord. 1111, 2018)