port angeles

frequently asked questions

1.  what is a short-term rental?

the approved ordinance defines a short-term rental as “a dwelling unit used as temporary lodging for a charge or fee for a rental period of less than thirty (30) continuous days. short-term rentals are classified as either type i or type ii.”

“type i short-term rental” is defined as a short-term rental at a dwelling that is the owner or designated lessee’s principal residence, where rooms are rented, and the owner or designated lessee is personally present at the dwelling during the rental period. room rentals are limited to numbers below those of congregate housing as defined by the international code council (icc), which requires substantial commercial upgrades to the residence for fire, life, and building safety.

“type ii short-term rental” is defined as a short-term rental at a dwelling unit that is not the owner’s or designated lessee’s principal residence.

2.    why are short-term lodging business licenses and inspections needed?

licensing and inspections help regulate short-term lodging properties effectively, ensure basic safety precautions are met, protect the public, and manage the impacts of these operations on our neighborhoods.

3.    when does the new ordinance go into effect?

july 1, 2024.

4.    oh no! i have not applied for a short-term lodging business license yet.

please know that the approved ordinance contains a phased transition period, allowing short-term lodging operators time to become licensed and inspected. the online licensing portal will be available beginning july 1, 2024, and enforcement activities will not begin until november 1, 2024.  

5.    what is my platform doing to comply with the new regulations?

the city of port angeles will notify platforms such as airbnb and vrbo once the regulations, as approved on march 6, 2024, have been implemented into the port angeles municipal code.

6.    i still have questions. who should i contact for more information?

we are here to help. please contact the department of community & economic development at stl@cityofpa.us or (360) 417-4785.

1.    what was the city council action on march 6, 2024?  

on march 6, 2024, a motion was made and approved to:

adopt the ordinance staff recommend option b (-) with no restrictions on location or number of type i short-term rentals with the definition revised to strike the requirement for “common entrance.”  to include a city-wide cap of 200 or 2%, whichever is higher on type ii short-term rental, no restrictions on location.

ensure preference/priority short-term rental business license applications for those currently running compliant short-term rentals. add “and a lottery for all completed short-term rental business license applications submitted by august 1.”

one unit per business license, one business license per person, and one business license per parcel.

remove option of getting type i business license on unit that is not primary residence.

add “sb 5334 implementation” to section 16 (p g-7) as written in suggestion 5 in the revised attachment.

allow inspection frequency to be determined by ced staff in 1-, 3-, or 5-year increments (p g 10).

include staff suggestions 7-13 from the “revised attachment 1.”

add to the good neighbor policy a new subsection 17.23.090(j) that states “the city will revoke a short-term rental business license upon the third violation “within a 36-month period” of this section by the licensee and their guests. short-term rental business licenses revoked for violation of this section may not be renewed, and the owner may not apply for a short-term rental business license on any other property in the city for two years.”

effective date july 1, 2024.

2.    does ordinance 3577, passed in 2017, remain in effect until july 1, 2024?

yes. in 2017, ordinance 3577 was passed, amending title 17 of the port angeles municipal code. this ordinance prohibits short-term rentals in the residential mixed density r7 zone and the residential low density r9 and r11 zones. it allows short-term rentals in the residential medium density (rmd) zone, residential high density (rhd) zone, and in all of the city’s commercial zones, except for the commercial office (co), where short-term rentals require a conditional use permit. this zoning-based location approach remains in effect until july 1, 2024.

3.    after the effective date of the ordinance, in what zones are there restrictions on short-term rental operations?

for “type i short-term rentals,” there are no restrictions on the location or number of short-term rentals. for “type ii short-term rentals,” there are no location-based restrictions; however, there is a citywide cap of 200 or 2% of total single-household dwellings/duplex units, whichever is higher.

4.    after july 1st, what do i need to do to legally operate a short-term lodging property?

to legally operate a short-term lodging property, you must obtain a short-term lodging business license and inspection from the city of port angeles.

5.    are short-term lodging business licenses and inspections the same thing?

business licenses and inspections will be the same. they are grouped under the same fee and occur together.

6.    how many short-term rental business licenses can i have? 

when the new ordinance goes into effect:

a.    one unit will be permitted per business license.

b.    one business license will be issued per owner.

c.     one business license will be issued per parcel.

7.    if i am married, can my spouse own one short-term rental, and can i own another?

no, the approved ordinance allows for one short-term rental business license per family.

8.    if i own a duplex on the same lot, can i rent out both units as short-term rentals?

no. the approved ordinance allows for one short-term rental dwelling unit per parcel per owner. a duplex on the same parcel is defined as two dwelling units.

9.    how often will i need to renew my short-term lodging business license and inspection?

community and economic development staff will issue varied-term business licenses and inspections at one-, two---, and three-year increments to avoid bottlenecks.

10.  does the approved ordinance allow my short-term rental to be “grandfathered in?”

all short-term rental applications will be treated as “new” short-term rentals.  as approved by the city council on march 6, 2024, preference and priority for short-term business licenses will be given to those currently operating compliant short-term rentals.

11.  can i use my recreational vehicle, camper, or a temporary structure on my property as a short-term rental?

no, short-term rentals must be located in a permitted dwelling unit on the parcel.

1.    when can i apply for a short-term lodging business license and inspection?

the online licensing portal will be available beginning july 1, 2024.

2.    how do i apply for a short-term lodging business license and inspection?

the online licensing portal will allow applicants to easily apply for a new or renewal business license and inspection online. this portal will be available beginning july 1, 2024. before this date, community members will be offered training sessions for using the portal.  

3.    what is the expected review time for a new business license and inspection?

after july 1, applications will be considered complete upon the submittal of all necessary documentation. review time will follow the typical permitting process. community & economic development staff estimate that there will be many submittals following the launch of the online portal and predict this will add extra review time for the first submittal year.

it is important to note that the approved ordinance contains a phased transition period, allowing short-term lodging operators enough time to become licensed and inspected before enforcement activities begin on november 1, 2024.

4.    what is the fee for a new or renewal business license and inspection?

business licenses and inspections will be available at one-, two-, and three-year increments. see fee details below.

5.    what information will be needed to apply for and obtain a short-term rental business license and inspection?

a complete application shall include the following:

a.    a complete application for the city’s short-term rental business license.

b.    a site plan to scale, which shows the entire dwelling unit used for the short-term rental, all other structures, parking, entrance and exit locations, and other relevant information as required by the director. a consultant is not required. this item may be hand-drawn to scale; there is no requirement for a computer-generated site plan unless the owner or authorized representative prefers this method.

c.     a floor plan to scale, which includes structure dimensions throughout the entire dwelling unit and the square footage. the floor plan must also show all smoke and carbon monoxide alarm locations, fire extinguisher locations, and all ingress or egress areas with dimensions. all rooms must be labeled. all sleeping accommodations should be clearly marked, including any accommodation outside the bedroom. the city has the right to deny sleeping accommodation outside of a designated bedroom for fire, health, and life safety. the business license must clearly state the condition if an area is prohibited from sleeping. a consultant is not required. this item may be hand-drawn to scale; there is no requirement for a computer-generated site plan unless the owner or authorized representative prefers this method.

d.    proof of short-term rental $1,000,000 minimum general liability insurance

e.    proof of property insurance

f.      copy of the owner’s state of washington master business license

g.    proof of ownership, including a copy of recorded deed or property tax record

h.    a signed copy of the good neighbor policy. this policy shall be posted at the site after city review and approval.

business license and inspection renewal applications: if the application is to renew an existing short-term rental business license, the following is also required:

a.    a copy of the operating period’s rental log, including the price per night per rental in the city, charged per booking, and the total price charged for each stay.[1]

b.    documentation showing the lodging tax paid to the state of washington for the previous year of operation. [2]

please note: to obtain final approval along with the business license, applicants will need to:

a.    obtain initial application review approval from the city of port angeles

b.    pay the business license/inspection fee

c.     schedule and complete a fire-life safety inspection

d.    complete an application acknowledgement agreement

e.    complete a good neighbor policy agreement

1.    what is the short-term rental lottery?

on march 6, 2024, the port angeles city council directed staff to:

ensure preference/priority short-term rental business license applications for those currently running compliant short-term rentals. add a lottery for all completed short-term rental business license applications submitted by august 1.

per the approved ordinance, two hundred (200) type ii short-term business licenses will be available beginning july 1, 2024. business licenses will be issued first to those currently operating compliant short-term rentals. the city will then conduct a lottery for all remaining type ii business licenses. the lottery will include type ii applicants who are either (1) currently out of compliance or (2) who have not previously operated prior to july 1, 2024.

2.    how will the lottery selection process work? 

the application portal for type ii short-term rental business licenses will open on july 1, 2024, with two hundred (200) type ii business licenses available for issuance.

·         business licenses will be issued first to applicants currently operating compliant short-term rentals.

·         remaining business licenses will be issued via lottery selection on august 1.

the lottery process will be a random drawing and will not be based on the date of submission. only completed applications submitted prior to july 31 will be entered into the drawing, which will be conducted via digital randomization.

should business licenses remain available after the august 1 lottery, a second lottery selection will occur by november 1, 2024.  

3.    how can i apply for the lottery drawing? 

type ii short-term rental applicants can apply for a business license through the city’s portal, accessible online beginning july 1, 2024.

4.    what happens if my name is not drawn? 

following the lottery drawing(s), the city will notify any waitlisted applicants if future business licenses become available. the city will accept and process new/waitlisted applications on a first-come, first-serve basis.

1.    do i need an inspection for my short-term lodging operation?

yes, all short-term lodging owners or authorized agents must obtain a fire life-safety inspection for each new or renewed business license application. the city of port angeles conducts this inspection.

2.    when do i get an inspection?

an inspection can be scheduled after july 1st and after your application submittal is determined to be complete. it will be based on the number of available short-term rental business licenses.

3.    how do i schedule an inspection?

you can schedule an inspection once your application is determined complete and the community and economic development team determines business license availability. you can book an inspection online.  

1.    if i have liability insurance through a licensed platform and want to advertise on a second licensed platform, does that satisfy my insurance requirements for a short-term rental business license application?

short-term rental owners and operators must maintain liability and property insurance regardless of provider. it is your responsibility to ensure you are operating within the policy rules.

1.    why does the city require documentation showing the lodging tax i’ve paid to the state of washington? 

the city requires this data to ensure accountability and that all owners operate legally and pay appropriate lodging taxes. 

2.    why does the city of port angeles require a copy of my property’s rental log? 

for business license renewals, a copy of the operating period’s rental log is necessary for successful platform-based enforcement and data compliance with lodging tax.

3.    does sharing this information with the city compromise the privacy of my short-term rental guests? 

no. the city requires a copy of the rental log for the operating period, including the price per night per booking and the total cost for the entire stay.  the city is not asking for information on specific guests, their names, addresses, emails, or any other personal information.   

1.    how will enforcement of short-term lodging work after november 1, 2024?

platforms, owners, authorized agents, and/or operators violating port angeles municipal code chapters 17.23 and 17.24 may be issued a citation, notice of violation and order to cease, and/or any notice of daily fines. violations and penalties are as follows:

under the approved regulatory measures, all communications with the property owner will occur through the portal. the portal will be available on july 1, 2024. property owners can apply for a business license and inspection, view potential violations, and pay applicable fees online.

2.    what if i operate my short-term rental and do not have a business license and inspection by november 1, 2024?

the city of port angeles will contact any platforms on which the unlicensed/uninspected listing is provided with directions to remove the listing. if renting of the unlicensed/uninspected short-term rental continues to occur, platforms, owners, authorized agents, and/or operators may be issued a citation, notice of violation and order to cease, and/or any notice of daily fines.

3.    what will happen to non-compliant short-term lodging operations?

the city will revoke a short-term lodging business license upon the third violation in a 36-month period. business licenses revoked for violation may not be renewed, and the owner may not apply for a short-term lodging business license on any other property in the city for two years.

1.    where can i report a potential violation?

those wishing to submit a complaint or report a potential violation may do so online using the portal, which will be available beginning july 1, 2024. complaints will be forwarded to city staff for review and investigation.

2.    how should i report a noise issue related to short-term lodging?

the good neighbor policy, as outlined in the port angeles municipal code, contains the standards for which short-term lodging properties must operate. the city of port angeles is developing a streamlined process for complaint submission, which will occur through the portal.

i need to close my account. what do i do?

please email the city of port angeles. please include the closure date and the reason you are closing the account.

what types of assistance can govos provide to me?

govos can assist you with all your system and account questions. whether you have a question about your account or technical questions about how to do something in govos, please reach out to our support team. we can always reach out to the city on your behalf if we need their assistance with one of your questions. you can reach govos at blt.str.support@govos.com and by phone at (888) 751-1911.

can i manage multiple properties with one login?

yes - to do so, click add accounts from your user login under manage your account(s). you will need your 6 digit account number and the govos activation code to connect to an existing property record.

can a property have more than one user?

yes, each property can have an unlimited number of users. each user is required to provide the 6 digit account number and the govos activation code to be authorized to connect to an existing property record. 

i did not receive or i misplaced the letter with my activation code. what do i do?

contact govos blt.str.support@govos.com or by phone at (888) 751-1911 for assistance. you will need to confirm account details to be verified for the account. to protect the security on property accounts, you will need written (e-mail) permission from a registered owner or officer of the property for us to provide you with a new activation code. 

what payment types are accepted by the city through govos?

the city accepts ach debit, or e-check as well as credit cards.

can i schedule a payment in govos?

for your security, govos does not store any payment information in the system. you will need to enter your desired payment information each time you check out. 

how do i change the user on a property?

all users need to register, just as you did, by going to the home page for that jurisdiction (i.e. https://wheatridge.blt.govos.com). they will click on the "go" button under "new users". they will also need the 6 digit account number and activation code for the property.

i forgot my password. what do i do? 

from the log in page, click the "forgot your password" link and follow the instructions that will be e-mailed to the user's registered e-mail address.

do i have to login to govos to see my alerts and reminders?

no. all alerts are e-mailed to your authenticated e-mail address. when you login to the system, you will also see any open alerts that need to be addressed in your action center. 

for assistance, contact
 govos support

blt.str.support@govos.com

(888) 751-1911

 when contacting support, be sure to include the jurisdiction (port angeles) and your account number in all emails or voicemails. this will help us assist you as promptly as possible. thanks!