Hello, this is an ordinance in the Ketchikan Municipal Code. We are looking at making the hosting platforms aware of this requirement. 18.12.015 Mandatory fire inspections and certificates of occupancy. Revised 8/25
(a) Fire inspections shall be mandatory in all required occupancies at regularly scheduled intervals;
(b) Fire inspections shall occur prior to business operations commencing in:
(1) All occupancies that are relocating;
(2) All occupancies closed for 120 consecutive days or greater; and
(3) All new business or commercial occupancies;
(c) Certificate of compliance shall be required from the Ketchikan fire department for all occupancies. Certificate of compliance shall be contingent on:
(1) Satisfactory completion of all required city inspections with no outstanding violations;
(2) Payment of any and all outstanding fees, taxes, or any other money owed to the city or Ketchikan Gateway Borough;
(d) Short-term rentals shall be required to have new occupancy fire inspection prior to occupancy, and every two years thereafter. For short-term rental properties listed by a hosting platform such as Airbnb, Vrbo and others that facilitate short-term room rental transactions by connecting potential hosts and guests while also collecting money from guests, the hosting platform shall be responsible for the initial and biannual inspections and associated fees. (Ord. 2006 § 5, 2025; Ord. 1583 § 6, 2008)
