Clackamas County Proposed STR Regulations SCARY

[Scott-and-Kathy0]

I just received notice from Clackamas County, Oregon that they have posted their proposed STR regulations for unincorporated residents.  It will put our Airbnb out of business if adopted.  Heck, their definition of a "guest house" alone means we shouldn't have even opened one in the first place(but they were all too eager to take our lodging tax.) 

"Guest houses shall comply with the following standards:
A. Use: A guest house shall be used only by members of the family residing
in the primary dwelling, their nonpaying guests, or their nonpaying
employees who work on the premises. A guest house shall not be a source
of rental income."

Read below and weep CC residents:

https://www.clackamas.us/planning/str

1. Guest houses or other similar structures are not considered to be dwelling units under
the county’s zoning and development ordinance and may not be used as a short-term
rental.
2. Temporary sleeping accommodations such as tents and recreational vehicles are not
considered to be dwelling units under the county’s zoning and development ordinance
and may not be used as a short-term rental.

If you want your voice to be heard get in touch with this lady before it's too late and attend the hearing in a month and voice your disgust.

Contact Senior Planner Martha Fritzie at mfritzie@clackamas.us or 503-742-4529.

Scott

[Solveig0]

@Scott-and-Kathy0  so that leaves only hotels and similar more commercial businesses if people are looking for cheaper rentals, both short and long term?

[Scott-and-Kathy0]

So sorry about not replying sooner, I thought I would get sent a notification about responses.  You can still have an STR but it will have to be part of your own dwelling such as a bedroom or a basement or a apartment over your garage you cant used detached dwellings that are next to your property.

[Linda108]

Seems to be aimed at separate structures, not shared homes, right?  If you had a guest room you could list it as a private room on Air BNB?

[Scott-and-Kathy0]

That is how I read it.

[Paul154]

Wow, that is the worst policy ever. Your commizars are celebrating "nonpaying" . ?

Rent is bad. Freeloading is good. What could go wrong?

In your area, you must have enough money to buy a house or be related to someone who owns a house.  

I'm hoping this is a bargaining starting point for your politicians. I hope you will fight and win.

Good luck

[Lisa723]

@Scott-and-Kathy0 @Solveig0 @Linda108 

it won’t apply to whole home primary structures or guest rooms/suites within those. (So selfishly speaking it would be great for me as it would knock out much of my competition.) But it certainly seems inexplicable and bad for the general market.

[Scott-and-Kathy0]

Yes, you are correct.  I just came from the county's fist reading of proposed amendments and they are sticking with the ban on guest houses. The person in charge of developing the regulation plan was curious about the lack of public input about the proposal. I had to check myself from bursting out laughing.  I've been paying their lodging tax for over a year and they never notified me.

[Lisa723]

@Scott-and-Kathy0

Any explanation about the rationale for focussing on guest houses?

I got this via email at the beginning of December. (Maybe you did too, and you meant, never before this.)

Good morning,

After several months of public input and discussions with the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners, updated draft regulations for short-term/vacation rentals in unincorporated Clackamas County are available for public review and comment.  Comments collected will be shared with County Commissioners to use as they consider adoption of these new regulations in 2020.  You can go directly to the draft regulations and the input form by using the following links.

• Draft regulations
• Questionnaire/input form 

Additional information about the draft regulations is available at www.clackamas.us/planning/str.  Please direct any comments or questions to Senior Planner Martha Fritzie at mfritzie@clackamas.us or 503-742-4529.  

You received this email because you have registered to pay transient lodging tax.  If you would prefer not to receive any more updates on this topic, please send back an email asking to be removed from the email list.  Thank you.

Ellen Rogalin, Community Relations Specialist

Clackamas County Public & Government Affairs

Transportation & Development | Business & Community Services

503-742-4274  | 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, OR 97045

Office hours:  9 am – 6 pm, Monday-Friday

[Rebecca1776]

We purchased a property in Molalla. It is exclusive farm use which is restrictive. I support protecting farm lands. I support good stewardship. The problem is, the world has changed since much of these laws have been introduced. There are ways to protect farm land and allow economic prosperity at the same time. I have an existing structure I want to remodel and use for Airbnb. 

Airbnb when done right is compatible with preserving the area, generating income for the government and creating income for families. All good things!