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Pasco adopts short-term rental rules requiring per-address permits and 24/7 local contact
Summary
The Pasco City Council adopted Ordinance 4847 to regulate short-term rentals, requiring a city business license, per-address short-term rental permits, a 24/7 local representative with a one-hour response requirement, liability insurance, and annual self-certification; the ordinance takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The Pasco City Council on Monday adopted Ordinance 4847, establishing a regulatory framework for short-term rental properties that city staff said focuses on life-safety and operator accountability. The ordinance, which the council passed by voice vote, becomes effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Deputy City Manager Seagdell summarized the key provisions for the council: operators must obtain a city business license and a short-term rental permit for each address, designate a local representative available 24/7 who must respond to complaints within one hour, maintain liability insurance as required by state law, and complete an annual life-safety self-certification that must be kept at the property. Seagdell said the self-certification model is intended to reduce staff workload and applicant fees compared with annual city inspections.
During public comment, Pasco landlords and local business advocates urged passage and asked staff to clarify details. Ken Pilecki, who identified himself as a real-estate broker and owner of short-term rentals in the Tri-Cities, said he supported a reasonable framework but asked whether the city intended a separate business license for each property or a single license for an operator with multiple properties.
Seagdell told council the ordinance as drafted requires a permit per address; a business license would provide a city endorsement for the operator. Council members asked follow-up questions about enforcement responsibilities (code enforcement or police), platform coordination with companies such as Airbnb and VRBO, and parking rules. Seagdell said the city expects code enforcement and on-call staff — and police as needed — to respond to complaints, and that staff is not proposing new, parcel-level parking requirements beyond existing residential parking standards.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved to adopt the ordinance and the motion was seconded. The council approved the ordinance by voice vote. Seagdell said staff will return between now and November with recommended permit fees and final application materials, and that staff will coordinate outreach and land-use cleanups tied to the city’s comp-plan process.
Next steps: staff will finalize permit and fee schedules, publish application forms and the ‘‘good neighbor’’ handbook referenced in the staff report, and implement community outreach before the ordinance’s Jan. 1, 2027 effective date.
