On August 20, 2024, the Port Angeles City Council adopted an ordinance adjusting short-term rental regulations. This updated legislation eliminates ownership, marital community, and parcel limitations for previously compliant short-term rental owners in Port Angeles.
Background
On March 21, 2017, the City Council passed Ordinance 3577, which established zoning-based location criteria for short-term rentals. At that time, the legislation did not include limitations on the ownership or number of allowable units in the Residential Medium Density (RMD) Zone, Residential High Density (RHD) Zone, and in all the City’s Commercial Zones, except for the Commercial Office (CO), where short-term rentals required a Conditional Use Permit.
More recently, on March 6, 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance 3728 to replace Ordinance 3577. Ordinance 3728 implemented detailed regulations for short-term rental operations, including a limit of one short-term lodging business license per owner, per marital community, and per parcel.
Adjusted Regulations for Previously Compliant Short-Term Rentals
Adopted on August 20, the newly updated ordinance eliminates the previous restriction of one license per owner, per marital community, and per parcel, allowing short-term rental owners that were previously fully compliant with Ordinance 3577 and the 2023 Limited Moratorium to apply for Short-Term Lodging Business Licenses for multiple properties.
If approved and licensed, those owners and short-term rental units will continue to be subject to all other requirements of Ordinance 3728. The overall cap of 200 Type II Short-Term Rental Business Licenses within the City of Port Angeles also remains unchanged.
Limited Application Period
A limited application window will be open from August 26, 2024, through September 6, 2024, during which eligible owners may submit additional Short-Term Lodging Business License application(s) for review. Eligibility includes properties that:
- Operated prior to July 1, 2024; and
- Remain under the same ownership as of July 1, 2024; and
- Were previously in compliance with the Ordinance 3577 and the City’s 2023 Limited Moratorium
- Note: Per Ordinance 3577, allowed zones include the Residential Medium Density (RMD) Zone, Residential High Density (RHD) Zone, and the City’s Commercial Zones, except for Commercial Office (CO), where short-term rentals required a Conditional Use Permit.
To apply, applicants must submit all required information using the Online Licensing Portal. This includes documentation that demonstrates the property operated as a fully compliant short-term rental before July 1, 2024, and in accordance with Washington State lodging tax requirements. For a full list of required documents, please visit our website: www.cityofpa.us/ShortTermLodging.
Please Note: To register their property in the licensing portal system, applicants will need their official registration letter containing their unique account number and activation code. If you are applying for multiple short-term rental units located on the same parcel, you will need a unique account number and activation code for each unit. If you have not received your registration letter or if you need a new registration letter, please contact the Community & Economic Development Department as soon as possible.
If you are managed by a property management company, please provide them with your account number and activation code so they can attach themselves to your account. They will not be able to access your account until you share this information with them. To protect the security of your account, please do not share this information with anyone else.
Please know that, during the application process, the City of Port Angeles will not request payment of fees over the phone. The payment of license fees will be completed through the portal.
As of August 1, 2024, the City has received 165 Type II Short-Term Rental applications. It is estimated that this adjustment could allow an additional 25 new eligible applications.
For more information or to receive assistance with your application, please contact the Department of Community & Economic Development at (360) 417-4STL (4785) or STL@cityofpa.us. Our team is here to assist with any questions you may have.