Vancouver, WA restrictions ?

[Stanley156]

I received a letter from the city claiming that short term rentals in the Vancouver city limits is illegal except under narrow exceptions. Vancouver Municipal Code 20.830 doesn't appear to have anything conclusive prohibiting short-term rentals. I have reached out to other superhosts in the area and no one else has gotten this notice, so maybe it's sent when complaints are filed.  I reached out to Airbnb and while they were sympathetic, they said they don't have legal support as such.  I'm thinking the politicians are trying to strong arm with no legal basis. Have you heard anything about this? And do you know if airbnb owners are banding together to fight this?

Here's the letter:

[Rocky-And-Jane0]

March 23 letter from the Clark County Assessor, Peter Van Nortwick notified us that we'll need to provide a list of all items that guests might use, their original cost and the year they were purchased so they can be properly assessed. We are currently asking for clarification about what that would mean for a 30 year old couch or a table bought at a garage sale in 1994. Maybe it's within some regulation somewhere, but the rapidity and the heavy-handedness from the city makes me want to connect some dots to the riverfront development and 2 Marriot hotel projects scheduled to open up there in the next 3 months.

[Chizuru1]

Back in 2007 I started a sole proprietorship and was asked to itemize a list of equipment and supplies I use to generate income. I called the state and was told that although I paid sales tax to purchase the equipment, the state of WA taxes income generating equipment. When I explained that my business was very part time, the person mentioned that if the equipment and supplies total less than $10k it won't be taxed. May be worth a call to the state. I think it was the department of revenue.

[Christina1157]

I got the same letter.  I also agree that the heavy handed nature of this letter is meant to scare mom and pop AirBnb owners.  Agreed that hotel lobbyists are at play here.  Someone is being paid off to target AirBnbs.  Where is AirBnb when it comes to supporting hosts?

From my estimate, the amount of tax amounts to about $100/yr.  Not a big deal.  But I'm sure this is the first of many hammers to fall.  Interesting fact: Peter Van Nortwick's wife has spent most of her career in the hotel industry.  Makes you say hummmmm.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katevannortwick

[Janet374]

Hi Vancouver WA hosts,

This is so helpful as I’m in the same boat as you all that got the 1st letter and now this itemized letter? It’s been 4 years since doing airbnb in Vancouver, 3 years a Super Host and 1st notice of this. I’m thinking oh man do I owe 4 years of being assessed? It’s stressful as it says April 30 is deadline. How are you all proceeding?  Janet