Short-Term Rentals in Unincorporated Clackamas County

An ordinance approved by the Board of County Commissioners in December 2022 clarifies that short-term (vacation) rentals are an allowed residential use in specific areas of unincorporated Clackamas County. The ordinance will be effective May 30, 2023.

This action follows Board approval in November 2022 of ZDO amendments to address issues that were remanded (sent back) to the county by the state Land Use Board of Appeals.

The approved ordinance will:

1. Add a definition of “short-term rental” to ZDO Section 202, Definitions.
2. Add “short-term rental” as an allowed use of a dwelling unit or guest house in all zoning districts where dwelling units or guest houses are allowed, except for:
   1. EFU, TBR, and AG/F districts and
   2. Urban or rural reserves where state law prohibits allowing new uses that were not allowed when the reserves were designated.
3. Amend ZDO Section 833, Guest Houses, to remove text that specifically prohibits using a guest house as a source of rental income and replace it with text that clearly allows the rental of a guest house on a short-term basis. Specific facilities allowed and not allowed in guest houses are also being clarified.

Meetings and Updates