How to get a Short Term Rental Permit in Corbett, OR

[Sanjid1]

Hi everyone,

For Corbett, Oregon, I see many Airbnbs, but I’m struggling to find clear guidance on obtaining a short-term rental permit. This cabin is very remote, and the landlord does not wish to live on-site. As property managers, we’re exploring how to convert this property into a bed and breakfast for commercial use (more than 8 guests per night). What steps should we take to navigate zoning regulations, licensing, and compliance requirements to make this transition legally viable?

After contacting Multnomah County Land Use, they informed us that there is no direct pathway to obtain a short-term rental permit under the current county code. The only alternative available is the Home Occupation process, which has strict requirements:

• The property must be owner-occupied with the owner present at all times
• The two available permit options:
  • Type A Home Occupation (Type I Permit):
    • Up to 500 sq. ft. of the dwelling can be rented
    • Maximum of 2 guests at a time
  • Type B Home Occupation (Type II Permit):
    • Up to 1000 sq. ft. of the dwelling can be rented
    • Maximum of 2 guests at a time
• Multi-family conversions are not allowed under zoning regulations

Given these restrictions, we are looking for alternative solutions to legally operate a short-term rental or a bed and breakfast in this area.

Has anyone successfully navigated this process or found a viable pathway to operate an STR or B&B within Multnomah County’s regulations? Any insights, experiences, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to your thoughts—thank you in advance!

Best,

Sanjid

[Helen3]

My thoughts is this is something the owner should be looking into not you as the property managers

. I would imagine your local government would advise on planning/licensing etc @Sanjid1 or the owner could employ a planning consultant to help with planning permission.

presuming the owner has already dove a business plan to help understand whether this is likely to be a profitable business model?,

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Sanjid1 

This is the same ordinance we operate under herein our remote residence. We must rent out only a part of our permanent full time residence to a limited number of guests. We must be present at all times when any guests are here - an excellent safety regulation, which also keeps the peace in the neighborhood. It works well for us and for our area. The pubic safety agencies all inspected and signed off on our property before presenting a favorable report on us. Sanitation, fire safety, evacuation plans, building codes, and such were all their concerns, including appropriate maximum number of guests for these health and safety codes. In a remote location these health and safety codes are even more important, especially in the West where fire, earthquake and evacuation are prime concerns. 

Seems that the homeowner is the appropriate lead for this and not a management company. @Helen3 is correct in her assessment in my opinion. Also in my opinion, it is unwise to go against regulations, which usually have a sound reason for their existence. 

[Alex]

Hi @Sanjid1, 

Hope your week is starting well. Did you find solutions for your short-term rental? I see you have some answers in your posts that might be helpful for the case you are asking about. 🙂

Let us know if you were able to find help or if you need anything else. 😊

Have a lovely day, 

Alex