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Commissioners weigh whether Woodburn should regulate short-term rentals as tourism grows
Summary
Staff told the commission Woodburn does not currently regulate short-term rentals in detail; commissioners noted demand from events and sports tournaments and asked staff to prepare pros/cons and comparables for council review.
Staff said Woodburn currently has no comprehensive short-term rental (STR) program. "They are in that we get calls... I never had a complaint about an Airbnb or the short term," a staff member said, describing limited inquiries but noting periodic calls from residents. Commissioners and a resident pointed to local visitor demand—Tulip and Harvest festivals and recurring sports tournaments—that creates rentals demand and economic opportunity, and they asked staff to prepare policy options and examples from other cities.
Staff suggested an options paper listing pros and cons, tax and licensing approaches, and enforcement considerations. Commissioners discussed whether to include STR regulation in this WDO round or to handle it later; staff recommended including it for council review because it intersects with housing supply, local business support and visitor lodging needs.
