Council upholds denial of short‑term rental license for 2341 McDowell after administrative hearing

Ferndale City Council on Monday upheld the city’s decision to deny renewal of a short‑term rental license for 2341 McDowell Street after an administrative hearing and a roll‑call vote to deny the owner’s appeal.

City code enforcement inspector Brett Sturtz told the council that staff issued a renewal reminder on Oct. 7, 2025, inspected the property in January and found outstanding items including missing handrails, a missing smoke detector and an uninspected RV on the premises. Sturtz said a follow‑up inspection on Jan. 22, 2026, confirmed outstanding issues and that staff later observed online advertisements for the property after the Feb. 4, 2026, deadline. “There were missing handrails, a missing smoke detector, and a required inspection of an RV on the premises,” Sturtz said during questioning.

Owner Ian Davidson told the council he has operated listings for more than a decade and said he believed he had resolved the interior items and had been told by staff he was “good to go” after a Jan. 22 visit. Davidson acknowledged a party at the house he described as a one‑time incident and said his camera system failed during the event. “I respectfully ask counsel to intervene and grant a 60‑day conditional extension so that the building department can be directed to work with me on their new workflows and allow me to bring my property … into compliance,” Davidson said.

Council members pressed staff and the owner on inspection dates, mailed notices and whether the property was being advertised and rented after the license deadline. Council referenced a police report that staff said noted 20–25 people at the property, alcohol and the presence of minors; staff said criminal citations stemming from the incident were pending in court. After deliberation, a council member moved to deny the licensure appeal under the administrative hearing ordinance and to instruct the city clerk to prepare a statement of findings; the motion carried on a roll‑call vote. The clerk will return a resolution with findings to council within 30 days for final consideration.

Next steps: council directed staff to prepare the findings resolution consistent with the ordinance and return it within 30 days; the decision will become effective according to the administrative hearing process when that resolution is considered.