The Skamania County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 on December 8, 2020 to approve Ordinance No. 2020-08, establishing regulations for the operation of short-term vacation rentals in unincorporated Skamania County. The Board approved the ordinance after the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the proposal on November 17, 2020, following a yearlong planning process. The ordinance was developed with input gathered by the Community Development Department from the Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission, several public meetings, a public hearing, stakeholder meetings, and over 150 online survey responses from community members. The County is hopeful these new regulations will help promote tourism and economic development within the County, while preventing unreasonable burdens on services and minimizing impacts to its rural communities.

The new regulations have been in effect since December 2020, however the requirement to obtain a permit to operate a short-term vacation rental will go into effect on January 1, 2023. 

Please note: These regulations do not apply to the operation of short-term rentals within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Please see refer to Skamania County Code 22.12.140 for requirements for overnight accommodations within the National Scenic Area.

• Short-term rentals will be allowable throughout the unincorporated county as a residential land use and can occur within a whole house, part of a house, accessory dwelling unit, residential accessory building, or a park model recreational vehicle.
• Short-term rental operators will be required to obtain an annual operating permit and to display this permit inside the short-term rental.
• Short-term rental operators must provide notice to adjacent property owners of their intent to operate a short-term rental.
• Short-term rentals will be prohibited from creating disturbances to neighboring properties that are not typical of a residential neighborhood.
• Short-term rental operators must provide dedicated on-site parking for guests.
• Short-term rentals must maintain building code compliance, keep carbon monoxide and spoke detectors in operating order, and provide a functioning fire extinguisher.
• Short-term rental operators must comply with Washington State requirements for payment of lodging taxes and maintenance of liability insurance.
• The County will proactively respond to complaints by issuing warnings to property owners. After three verifiable violations, the County may revoke a short-term rental permit or require corrective measures.

Ordinance No. 2020-08 - Adopted December 8, 2020
Adopted language

December 8, 2020 - Board of County Commissioners Meeting
November 24, 2020 - Board of County Commissioners Workshop
November 17, 2020 - Planning Commission Meeting
October 6, 2020 - Planning Commission Public Hearing
July 21, 2020 - Planning Commission Workshop
July 14, 2020 - Board of County Commissioners Workshop
July 7, 2020 - Planning Commission Workshop
June 16, 2020 - Planning Commission Workshop
June 2, 2020 - Board of County Commissioners Workshop
May 19, 2020 - Planning Commission Workshop
Short-term Vacation Rental Survey Monkey Results
March 3, 2020 - Planning Commission Workshop
November 13, 2019 - Board of County Commissioners Workshop