Title
Short-Term Rental Status Update
Recommended Action
NA. Status update only.
Report
Issue:
Briefing from staff introducing an overall scope of work for addressing short-term rentals, including key policy areas and methods for engaging the community and key stakeholders.
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8046
Catherine McCoy, Associate Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3776
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development
Catherine McCoy, Associate Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
Short-term rentals are one of the best known and widely used examples of the rapidly growing sharing economy. Some of the most commonly known online short-term rental platforms include: Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, and Flipkey. Some of these platforms are owned by larger travel-related companies, such as Expedia, Priceline, and Trip Advisor. Nationwide data provided at the 2019 National Planning Conference showed that 25 percent of all overnight stays are in short-term rentals. This is an 82 percent increase since 2016. More than 80 percent of short-term rentals are entire living units, as opposed to room rentals. Fifty-seven percent of these units are single-family houses; 43 percent are multi-family units.
A complimentary search in April 2019 by Host Compliance, a company that assists local governments with short-term rental regulations and enforcement, revealed 166 listings and 140 rental units in Olympia (see attached map).
City Councilmembers and staff have received requests from bed and breakfast operators and hoteliers to look into a perceived regulatory and cost advantage for short-term rental operators, who may not have the same level of local and state regulatory, tax, and licensing requirements.
City staff provided an overview of policy issues related to short-term rentals at the May 2018 Land Use and Environmen...
Click here for full text