Dozens of Lewis County property owners criticize short‑term rental assessments at public meeting

Dozens of residents and short‑term rental owners urged Lewis County elected officials on Tuesday to change how the county's assessor treats properties that are rented briefly, saying new assessments have doubled or sharply increased tax bills for cabins and vacation homes.

Speakers described sharp year‑over‑year increases and questioned the assessor's choice of comparable sales. "I purchased my home in November of '24 and have a professional appraisal valuing it at $740,000. Yet my 2025 county assessment values the property at $877,000," said Laura Parker, who identified herself as a homeowner and short‑term rental operator in Chehalis. "Why are short‑term rental owners being singled out?"

Residents from Packwood, Ashford and other tourist‑oriented communities said the assessor's office has categorized homes that were rented at least once as short‑term rentals…