On March 6, 2024, the Port Angeles City Council adopted new regulations for short-term lodging operations. The approved ordinance, as outlined in Chapters 17.23 and 17.24 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code, enhances safety and compliance, protects the public, and manages the impacts of short-term lodging in Port Angeles neighborhoods.

Starting July 1, owners and operators of active short-term rental and bed-and-breakfast operations must obtain a business license and inspection from the City of Port Angeles. All applications must be submitted by August 1. Applications received after August 1 will be placed on a waitlist.

Key Details:

Bed and Breakfasts: Defined as a lodging use where rooms are provided to guests by an onsite resident bed and breakfast operator or owner for a fee by prearrangement on a daily or short-term basis. Breakfast and/or light snacks are served to those renting rooms in the bed and breakfast.

Unlimited “Type I” Short-Term Rentals: Defined as a short-term rental in the owner or designated lessee’s principal residence, where rooms are rented, and the owner or designated lessee is present during the rental period. There are no restrictions on the location or number of “Type I” Short-Term Rentals in Port Angeles.

Some restrictions for “Type II” Short-Term Rentals: Defined as a short-term rental in a dwelling that is not the owner or designated lessee’s principal residence. There are no location-based restrictions for “Type II” Short-Term Rentals, however there is a citywide cap of 200 total units. This means that there are only 200 total “Type II” Short-Term Rental Business Licenses available as of July 1.

August 1 Application Deadline: Applicants must submit their application (regardless of type) by August 1. Applications submitted after the August 1 deadline will be placed on a waitlist.

Priority for Compliant Operators: Per the Council-approved ordinance, Type II Short-Term Rental Business Licenses will be issued first to applicants operating compliant short-term rentals as of July 1. A random lottery selection will then be conducted for all remaining Type II Business Licenses.

Fair Allocation through Short-Term Rental Lottery:  After priority allocation, a lottery selection will be conducted for all remaining Type II Short-Term Rental Business Licenses. This lottery will include Type II Short-Term Rental applicants who are either (1) currently operating out of compliance or (2) who have not previously operated a short-term rental business.

• October 1 Lottery: The first lottery selection will take place on October 1 through a random drawing. The lottery will not be based on the date of application submission.
• To be included: Type II Short-Term Rental applicants must submit their application by August 1. Any missing documents or requests for revisions must be complete and the applicant must receive notice of complete application from the City by September 15.
• Waitlist: Applications received after August 1 or that are not fully complete by September 15 will be placed on a waitlist.
• November 1 Lottery: Should licenses remain available after the October  1 lottery, a second lottery will be held by November 1 for those applicants on the waitlist.

Licensing Terms: Licenses will be issued in one-, two-, or three-year increments, avoiding a processing bottleneck in future years. For 2024, the first third of licenses will be issued for three years, the second third of licenses will be issued for two years, and the last third of licenses will be issued for one year. All future renewals will be for three yearss

Delayed Code Enforcement Start Date: Code enforcement for the new short-term rental regulations will begin on November 1, 2024, allowing property owners and operators with time and flexibility to meet the new City requirements.  

Online Licensing Portal 

Available on July 1, the Online Licensing Portal will provide applicants with a streamlined and user-friendly experience. Key features include:

Application submission: Owners and operators can submit their applications online.

Document Upload: Users can upload required documents, such as proof of property insurance, directly through the portal.

Status Tracking: Applicants can track the status of their application, ensuring transparency and keeping them informed throughout the process.

License Management: Once approved, owners and operators can manage their licenses, including renewals, through the portal.

Support Resources: The portal will include resources such as FAQs, reporting, and customer support contact information to assist users.

Active short-term lodging units must be registered in the portal system to begin the application/licensing process. In late June 2024, owners and operators of currently active short-term lodging properties will receive a mailed letter containing a unique account number and activation code to ensure security in the application process. This information will be required in order to complete the online registration.

If you own an inactive short-term lodging unit, would like to begin operating a new short-term lodging unit, or if you are an existing operator who did not receive registration information in the mail in late June, please contact the Department of Community & Economic Development as soon as possible to receive your unique account number and activation code.

Information Needed as Part of Your Application 

A complete application will include the following attachments (see “Important Documents” below for references):  

• Site plan drawn to scale of the property, which shows the entire dwelling unit used for the short-term rental, all other structures, parking, entrance and exit locations. This item may be hand-drawn.
• Floor plan drawn to scale, which includes the structure and room dimensions, and square footage throughout the entire dwelling unit. The floor plan must also show the location of all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and all ingress or egress areas with dimensions. All rooms must be labeled. All sleeping accommodations should be clearly marked, including any accommodations located outside the bedroom. This item may be hand-drawn.
• Proof of General Liability Insurance (minimum $1,000,000 for Short-Term Rentals)
• Proof of Property Insurance
• Copy of the owner/operator’s State of Washington Master Business License
• Proof of Ownership, including either a Copy of the Recorded Deed or the Property Tax Record
• Signed copy of the Good Neighbor Policy

Following application submittal, applicants must then:

• Obtain initial application approval from the City of Port Angeles
• Pay the Business License/Inspection Fee
• Schedule and complete a Fire-Life Safety Inspection
• Obtain final approval (with Business License) from the City of Port Angeles

Preparing for Inspection  

To aid applicants in meeting safety and compliance standards, the City has developed an Inspection Checklist. This list outlines the requirements to be assessed during the inspection process and helps property owners make minor improvements, such as installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, as required to become compliant prior to their inspection date.

Important Documents 

• Bed and Breakfast Applicant Information Packet
• Short-Term Rental Applicant Information Packet
• Short-Term Lodging Application Process Workflow
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Port Angeles Municipal Code Ch. 17.23 (Short-Term Rentals) and Ch. 17.24 (Bed and Breakfasts)

Timeline

• July 1: Online Licensing Portal Launches. All interested parties may apply.
• August 1: All applications must be submitted by August 1. Applications received after this date will be placed on a waitlist.
• September 15:  Applicants must receive notice of complete application from the City of Port Angeles by this date. Any missing items must have been submitted and reviewed by the City before this date. Any application deemed incomplete after September 15 will be placed on a waitlist.  
• October  1: The City will conduct a  lottery selection for Type II (Standard) Short-Term Rental Business Licenses.  Should licenses remain available after the October 1 lottery, a second lottery will be held by November 1 for any applicants remaining  on the waitlist.
• November 1: Enforcement of short-term lodging regulations begin in the City of Port Angeles.

Training and Support 

On Thursday, June 27, at 3:30 p.m., the City will host an instructional webinar to prepare applicants for this new process. This training will demonstrate use of the online licensing portal, review application requirements, and provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. A recording of the webinar will be available at a later date. Click here to view webinar details. 
 
The City of Port Angeles is committed to supporting applicants throughout this new process. For more information, please visit the City’s Short-Term Lodging website (www.cityofpa.us/ShortTermLodging) or contact the Department of Community & Economic Development at (360) 417-4STL (4785) or STL@cityofpa.us. Our team is here to assist with any questions you may have.