PORT ANGELES — A new webpage from the City of Port Angeles has information about short-term rentals and a way for residents to submit feedback to the city about the issue.
The city announced the webpage at https://www.cityofpa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1546 on Thursday and asked residents to submit comments on proposed regulations. Hearings are to take place in the coming months.
“As part of this process, residents and stakeholders are encouraged to review the proposed regulatory measures and engage in the online survey, feedback sessions, and public hearings scheduled for Winter 2023-2024,” the city said in a press release.
Among the proposed regulations for STRs is licensing for operators as well as a licensing fee. The city also is proposing several regulations on bed-and-breakfast rentals in the city.
An online survey about short-term rentals is available at the city’s website until Jan. 14, and there will be a series of drop-in feedback sessions in the next few weeks.
The first drop-in feedback session will be at the Winter Ice Village at 121 W. Front St. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Another feedback session will be at the Port Angeles Farmers Market at 125 E. Front St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6.
A third session will be conducted at the Port Angeles Senior and Community Center at 328 E. Seventh St. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11.
Short-term rental regulations will be discussed at a Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. and a City Council meeting on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be conducted in City Council chambers and also be available online.
Short-term rentals have become a contentious issue in the city, with many blaming them for limiting the city’s housing supply for residents and driving up rental prices, while others defend the units as contributing to the city’s tourist economy and providing revenue to the city through lodging tax.
The city passed a limited moratorium on STRs in certain zones in June, but that ended Dec. 16.
An independent consulting firm, GovOS, Inc., was hired by the city to complete a detailed analysis of the short-term rental market in Port Angeles. Results of that survey are forthcoming.
The survey and more information on the city’s proposed STR regulations are available at the city’s website, cityofpa.us.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
