Public invited to comment on Chelan County short-term rental code

The Chelan County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing next month to take comments on proposed updates to the county’s short-term rental code.

The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way in Wenatchee. The meeting will be available on Zoom. Watch the Planning Commission website for the link

as the hearing date nears.

Chelan County Community Development will present a staff report sharing updates recommended by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

Community Development is currently taking written comments on the short-term rental code. About 200 comments have been received so far. To submit your comments, email them to CD.Comment@co.chelan.wa.us.

In July 2021, the Board of County Commissioners passed the new code, Chapter 11.88.290, that establishes the operating standards of the county’s short-term rental industry, which has seen rapid growth in most recent years. Since

the code was passed, other counties around the state have reached out to Community Development as they too look to establish standards for short-term rentals.

Earlier this year, the BOCC asked the Planning Commission to review portions of the short-term rental code that have raised questions from both county staff and the public, or sections needing language updates.

Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay explained that the board is not opening up the entire code.

“The board wanted to take a look at a few issues, such as on-site parking, occupancy and administrative language, that have raised some questions from both Community Development staff and the public,” Overbay said. “By asking the

Planning Commission to review specific areas of the code, we have an opportunity to potentially improve upon sections of the code that have been in place for the past three years.”

Following the public comment portion of the hearing, the Planning Commission will deliberate and make a recommendation to the BOCC. Community Development staff will then make the recommended edits from the Planning

Commission to the code and forward those changes to the board. The BOCC will hold another public hearing before making any final revisions to the current land use regulations..