WHITE SALMON — As identified in its workplan for this year, White Salmon’s Planning Commission considered relaxing restrictions on short-term rentals in the city’s commercial zone last Wednesday.
Short-term rentals aren’t allowed if they make up more than 30% of residential units on a commercially zoned parcel, and since single-family homes count as one unit, converting those dwellings is effectively prohibited. While other conditions exist, there’s no similar threshold for short-term rentals on individual parcels in residential zones.
“Why are we banning single-family residences in the commercial district from short-term rentals when it’s not banned in other residential zoning?” Commissioner Nate Loker said during the July 24 meeting. “If any zoning should have short-term rentals, it should be the commercial.”
City code also requires, however, that the ground-level space along Jewett’s main drag be reserved for businesses rather than temporary or permanent residences, a standard commissioners wanted to maintain.
Ultimately, they agreed on workshopping language for a potential ordinance to amend city code, which would require a public hearing before the planning commission and then subsequent approval by city council.
Across all zones within city limits, short-term rentals can only make up 10% of the total units available. According to City Planner Rowan Fairfield, that figure is hovering at around 5% right now.
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