Electric City considering short-term rentals again

Electric City is moving with caution as they consider an ordinance to allow short term rentals just three years after banning them. 

During their July 12 meeting, the city council discussed the pros and cons of allowing people to rent out residences for short stays, less than 30 days, as made popular by websites like Airbnb.

Mayor Diane Kohout noted that the previous council had voted down the idea of allowing short term rentals.

That happened in 2019, after more than a year of discussing the issue.

At that time, a Lakeview Avenue couple noted their problems with short-term renters who were loud, lit off fireworks, threw their cigarettes on the ground, and even wandered into their yard.

Electric City’s council last week discussed possible rules to include in an ordinance that would address these concerns. 

Included in their agenda packet were examples of ordinances and applications related to short-term rentals from Chelan, Spokane, and other cities. 

Requiring short-term rental owners to apply each year for a permit to rent out their property on a short-term basis would mean that if there were issues with their renters, the owners would risk not being approved the following year. 

Requiring the owner to live within a certain distance of the rental could prevent people from out of the area buying up property simply to rent it out for short-term stays.

One possible benefit of passing an ordinance allowing short term rentals would be additional lodging tax money brought into the city. 

Electric City’s planning commission will look more into the details of a short-term rental ordinance, which could potentially be passed for next year.

Grand Coulee passed an ordinance allowing short-term stays in January of this year. 

Their ordinance requires an owner to maintain a business license that “may include conditions of approval to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and to minimize adverse impacts on neighboring properties.”

Their ordinance allows an owner to “designate a local agent to manage a short term/vacation rental(s) or bed and breakfast inn on his/her behalf within 30 miles of Grand Coulee.”

Other rules are outlined in the ordinance related to maximum capacity, safety guidelines, and other aspects of short-term rentals.