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Resident urges moratorium on enforcement of Pullman short‑term rental ordinance
Summary
A resident told council enforcement of the city’s short‑term rental ordinance is shifting away from the promised complaint‑driven approach and urged a moratorium and code review.
Trevor Vance, a Pullman resident, asked the City Council during the Aug. 12 public‑comment period to place a temporary moratorium on enforcement of the city’s short‑term rental (STR) ordinance and to reevaluate the code with grandfathering provisions.
Vance said the ordinance was originally described as complaint‑driven but that recent enforcement actions—such as outreach to platforms (Airbnb, VRBO), targeted letters to owners and threats of broader enforcement—indicate a shift in practice. He said some neighbors attempting to comply faced “unreasonable or arbitrary burdens,” citing one reported example of a $500 parking‑variance fee for a 1940s/1950s property with no off‑street parking and an instance where staff asked an owner to relocate smoke and carbon‑monoxide detectors that was later walked back when challenged.
Vance asked the council to consider an immediate moratorium on STR enforcement while staff reevaluate the code and potential grandfathering. Several councilmembers, including Wright and Weller, thanked him for bringing the concerns forward and said they would review the information provided. Wright said she would “take a look” and investigate the materials provided by Vance; Weller said he and Vance had discussed the issue and acknowledged the need to balance proactive enforcement and complaint‑driven approaches.
No formal action was taken during the meeting; councilmembers said staff would review the materials and the item could be brought forward in a later agenda.
