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Klickitat County eyes short‑term rental ordinance; commissioner gives enforcement numbers
Summary
Commissioner Lori Zoller said the county estimates 300–500 short‑term rentals, has about 50 nuisance complaints, and cannot start a local permit program until more information and staff are available; she said state law currently requires rentals to be licensed.
Commissioner Lori Zoller told the Trout Lake Community Council the county is moving toward a local short‑term rental ordinance and that staff need time to gather details before a permitting program can begin. "We can’t start a permit program until more info gathered," she said, and added that state law requires rentals to be licensed and to meet basic safety requirements.
Zoller provided early counts and complaints that the county will use to design enforcement: an "estimated 300-500 short term rentals in the county" and roughly 50 nuisance complaints to date. She said the assessor's office may be able to deploy a program to better identify rentals, but emphasized the county lacks the staffing now to inspect and enforce compliance. Council members noted workforce housing concerns would tie into the ordinance discussion.
Zoller said the ordinance will appear on the BoCC agenda on April 17 and staff will need to return with regulatory options and likely enforcement costs before a permit system can be implemented.
