(The Center Square) – Spokane intends to begin monitoring compliance with local regulations governing short-term rental properties starting in January.
City officials said they will be issuing letters to hosts identified for non-compliance. The notices will include instructions on how to apply for a city-issued permit and provide a 30-day grace period to voluntarily meet municipal code requirements.
Short-term rentals are typically characterized as residential-based accommodations provided for paying guests in houses, apartments or condominiums, excluding hotels and motels. Along with independent owners and operators, online companies such as Airbnb and Vrbo specialize in booking arrangements.
According to AirDNA, a short-term rental tracking company, Spokane has 3,658 active short-term rentals.
In July, the Spokane City Council passed amendments governing the permitting of short-term rentals, and the regulations took effect Sept. 1. Notifications of non-compliance will begin in the new year, the city announced in a blog post earlier this month.
The updates are intended to offer a simpler permitting process for those structures to meet certain safety requirements and to better align with the city’s housing action and implementation plans, according to Spokane’s Development Services Center.
Multi-family structures – those containing three or more units – allow short-term rentals if they have a functional, annually inspected fire sprinkler system. The number of units that may be rented short-term varies: no more than 30% of units in a structure in non-residential zones; no more than 20% in residential zones. A compliant single residence is also allowed as an attached or detached structure or accessory dwelling.
Overnight stays by guests cannot exceed 30 consecutive days.
Permit application fees for short-term rentals are $200 in a residential zone ($100 annually to renew) and $300 in other zones ($150 annually to renew).
The owner or operator of a short-term rental must obtain a permit, have a current Spokane business license, provide site and floor plans, and provide proof of liability insurance and a notarized “life safety compliance form.” The city may inspect short-term rentals for compliance with fire and building code requirements. Violations can result in revocation of a rental permit.
Information was not immediately available from city officials on the number of short-term rental properties that are currently permitted, and an estimate on the number of rentals suspected of non-compliance.
Spokane has contracted with a consulting firm, Granicus, to assist with monitoring and communications between the city and short-term rental hosts.
More information is available by contacting the city’s development services center by calling (509)625-6188 or emailing planningreview@spokanecity.org.
