Clackamas County hears mixed views at STR town hall; residents press for enforcement and owner‑occupied limits

Clackamas County held a virtual town hall on its short‑term rental (STR) pilot program where commissioners listened to more than an hour of live comments and dozens of emailed submissions that split residents and hosts over enforcement, fees and density.

Commissioner Paul Savas, who helped craft the county's STR pilot, opened with background on the program’s goals and constraints, saying the county adopted county code chapter 8.1 and an ordinance in September 2023 to address neighborhood livability complaints. Savas said the pilot was designed to be self‑supporting and described core provisions that he said were part of the pilot: a transient lodging surcharge of 0.85% applied to each rental (he estimated the average charge at about $1 per booking), a maximum occupancy set at two people per bedroom plus four additional occupants capped at 15, a parking requirement of one off‑street space per two sleeping areas, weekly covered trash containers, quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., safety equipment and a posted 24/7 emergency contact with a two‑hour response expectation. He emphasized that the pilot does not change basic county code enforcement: "code enforcement is available to you wherever you live in Clackamas County," he said.

More than two dozen live callers and many emails offered a mix of support and criticism. Several long‑time Mount Hood corridor residents and community leaders described safety and livability problems they attribute to non‑resident, investor‑owned STRs: Patricia Erdenberger, Hoodland CPO chair, said the program is "well meant, but it is not enforced," and Gerald Murphy of Timberline Rim reported 92 registered STRs in a roughly 450‑home neighborhood and warned of impaired emergency access and declining school enrollment. Michelle Castle of Welches described recurring party houses that she said caused property damage and safety risks, and urged lower occupancy and septic verification.

At the same time, owner‑operators and small property managers pushed back against rules they said are overly burdensome or unevenly enforced. Sue Ellen White, who operates a historic family cabin, said the pilot "is poorly managed" and that the monthly paperwork and tax process is a "bureaucratic nightmare" for mom‑and‑pop hosts. Operators of the Rangers Rest Cabin and other emailed hosts said STRs support local jobs and the Mount Hood tourism economy and asked the county to target large, out‑of‑state portfolios rather than small family operators.

Multiple commenters asked the county to contract with platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO to collect and remit lodging taxes directly to the county to alleviate manual filing burdens. "This would alleviate the need for hosts to file and send this every month," an emailed commenter wrote. Several speakers asked for better public reporting on enforcement actions and compliance audits; Jeffrey Janke, who identified himself as an STR host in Oak Grove, asked officials to publish evidence that the program is achieving its aims.

Speakers also urged policy distinctions by land‑use context. Brett Fisher and members of resort communities argued that HOA‑governed, purpose‑built resort accommodations (for example, developments in Government Camp) already have on‑site management and enforcement and should not be regulated the same way as single‑family residential neighborhoods.

Commissioner Diana Helm thanked speakers and said staff will compile comments and look for repeating themes to prioritize before future meetings. Savas reiterated the county had extended the pilot through June so the board can gather more input and review data; he clarified the transient lodging tax structure is a state mechanism routed to the tourism board and not to the county general fund.

No formal actions or votes were taken during the town hall. Commissioners said additional deliberations and an in‑person town hall were planned, giving residents more opportunities to provide input before the board considers any permanent changes.

What's next: The county will compile the comments collected tonight, and commissioners said they expect deeper conversations and possible policy tweaks in May and June, with at least one in‑person town hall slated for April 1 at the Mount Hood Oregon Resort in Welch's. The STR pilot remains in effect through the extended period while the county reviews public input and enforcement data.