This page was last updated on Nov. 21, 2023.
The Board of County Commissioners approved rules and regulations regarding short term rentals (STRs) on Sept. 7, 2023. Residents are encouraged to review the STR regulations, which were adopted as presented.
The regulations will take effect after 90 days (Dec. 6, 2023), and only affect the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County – there will be no effect on STRs located within city limits.
The Board of County Commissioners intends to revisit these regulations in two years in order to evaluate the cost and efficacy of the program and make a determination whether to continue, amend, or discontinue the regulations.
The first public hearing on this matter occurred on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. Review the agenda or watch the hearing. The second public hearing occurred on Sept. 7. Review the agenda or watch the hearing.
The Board of County Commissioners was effusive in their thanks to the many members of the public that provided testimony in person and over Zoom at both public hearings, as well as many more that emailed in their perspectives. Many changes were made to the proposed regulations in-between the time of the first and second public hearings.
Registration forms and future payments
Per the regulations, registration for owners/operators is mandated. These forms are due by end of day on Dec. 6, 2023.
No STR may be publicly advertised for rent unless it has been registered with Clackamas County. STR owners/operators can download a registration form by clicking the button below:
The form be completed and emailed into str@clackamas.us, or mailed to the county’s finance department:
Clackamas County Finance Department
c/o STR Registration
Suite 490
2051 Kaen Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
Registration forms can also be delivered in person to the finance department as well. Appointments can be made by emailing str@clackamas.us.
Within 30 days after receiving an accurate and complete registration form, county staff will provide registration confirmation.
STR owners will continue to pay the county’s transient lodging tax (TLT) of 6%, and pay a newly-enacted .85% STR user fee on total rental amounts. Payment of TLTs will continue to be made here. Payments for the .85% user fee will be able to be made on this STR webpage. The first payments to Clackamas County for the .85% user fees will be due on Jan. 15, 2024, for the time period of Dec. 7, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2023. Future payments will be due on the 15th of each month for the fees associated with the full previous calendar month. Any STR owner/operator that is not registered risks non-compliance, which is detailed in the regulations.
About the forthcoming regulations
When the County Code is amended (Dec. 7, 2023), the regulations will take effect only within the unincorporated areas of Clackamas County – there will be no effect on STRs located within city limits. Further, this program is considered to be a pilot program, and will be in effect for two years from the time of being enacted.
Prior to Dec. 7, 2023, Clackamas County has no STR regulations. The full regulations to take effect at that time can be found here.
Regulations will require all STRs in unincorporated Clackamas County to register with the county. The process will be free and an in-home inspection will not be required. When registering, the property owner and/or manager will certify that the property meets safety standards and that they will abide by the STR program rules. These include, but are not limited to:
- STR owners will continue to pay the county’s transient lodging tax (6%)
- The proposed STR regulations impose a .85% user fee on the total rental amount
- No STR may be publicly advertised for rent unless it has been registered with Clackamas County
- STRs shall comply with all building and fire standards
- STR registration identification numbers shall be included on any advertisement or rental platform
- Contact information of a party responsible for the STR shall be posted at all times while paying guests are on the property, in an area and size readily visible from the nearest public roadway. (Per the draft STR rental application, that person/company must be available 24/7 and able to respond to complaints within two hours. See pages 10-11.)
- The number of STR occupants shall not exceed the number authorized in the registration. Fifteen occupants is the maximum.
- Notice shall be clearly posted in the STR that identifies and informs occupants of the county's noise control ordinance
- Adequate parking – one off-street motor vehicle space per sleeping area – is required. There are exceptions to this for certain areas of the Mount Hood community (see “Updates since the first public hearing” below)
- Vehicles shall never block access for emergency vehicles, access to the premise, or a parked motor vehicle. These violations, or other parking performed in a manner that violates the county’s current parking and towing ordinance standards, may subject the offending vehicle to immediate tow.
- The proposed STR regulations do not apply to hotels, motels, bed and breakfast facilities, hostels, campgrounds, lodging and resort accommodations in commercial zones, recreational vehicle camping facilities, or organizational camps
Violations
Clackamas County encourages any residents/parties to cooperate directly to resolve conflicts arising from an STR. First attempts to remedy violations should be to contact the posted STR representative. If a person does not respond within 24 hours or does not adequately remedy the issue, the county should be notified. Further details:
- Clackamas County reserves the right to immediately revoke registration if it determines an STR is a fire or life safety risk
- Clackamas County reserves the right to review pertinent financial records or visit the STR to ensure violations have been resolved at any reasonable time
- When noncompliance of the STR regulation is suspected, the county shall issue up to two warnings in writing
- An owner that operates an STR without an approved registration or while suspended shall be subject to penalties
History
An ordinance approved by the Board of County Commissioners in December 2022 amended the Zoning & Development Ordinance (ZDO) to clarify that short-term (vacation) rentals are an allowed residential use in specific areas of unincorporated Clackamas County.
The action of the Board of County Commissioners in December 2022 followed 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:
- Added a definition of “short-term rental” to ZDO Section 202, Definitions.
- Added “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:
- EFU, TBR, and AG/F districts and
- Urban or rural reserves where state law prohibits allowing new uses that were not allowed when the reserves were designated.
- Amended 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.
Stay in touch
Contacts
STR owners and interested parties with questions can contact the county's Finance Department by emailing str@clackamas.us.
