Council removes local certificate requirement from city transient lodging code

The Eugene City Council on Nov. 24 adopted an ordinance amending the city's transient lodging code to eliminate the local certificate-of-authority requirement previously required of lodging providers.

Staff explained that in 2022 the city transferred responsibility for collecting transient room taxes to the Oregon Department of Revenue and updated several code sections to align with the state's model ordinance. One code provision, however, still required the city to issue certificates of authority to lodging providers upon registration. The ordinance approved Nov. 24 amends Eugene Code sections 3.775, 3.78 and 3.798 (Eugene Code 1971 as referenced in staff comments) to remove that requirement and streamline administration for lodging providers and city staff.

Staff noted a public hearing on Nov. 17 received no public testimony. Council President moved adoption; the motion was seconded and the council voted 8-0 to adopt the amendments.

The change shifts the administrative burden for registration and certificates to the state-level process already in place and eliminates the local certificate step described in the code. Staff did not note additional fiscal impacts at the meeting; any implementation steps will be handled by city finance and code administration.