PULLMAN, WA – After nearly two years of review Pullman City Council on Tuesday night is set to consider a controversial plan to create new regulations governing short term rentals like Airbnb’s.

The proposed restrictions are included in the much larger update to the City of Pullman’s zoning code which is also up for final approval Tuesday night.

A majority of Pullman City Council appeared to support the new rules during a meeting last month. Councilmembers Nathan Weller and Megan Guido did voice concerns with the proposal and wanted the short term rental regulations removed from the zoning code update.

The city’s planning commission has spent nearly two years crafting proposed regulations on short term rentals like Airbnb’s. Currently short term rentals are only legal in Pullman if they have a Conditional Use Permit granted by the city’s hearing examiner. There are only 14 legal rentals in the city and those permits are banned in single family residential R1 zones.

The proposed rules allow short term rentals up to a duplex in size in all zones. Operators would need to have a business license as required by state law. Proposed safety regulations include an emergency evacuation plan approved by the city, a lighted emergency exit sign along with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The plan includes occupancy limits and requires an inspection by a city building official. The annual permits would be required to advertise a short term rental in the city.

Short term rentals have become a popular side hustle and in some cases critical income for Pullman residents.
Tuesday’s Pullman City Council meeting starts at 5:30 in city hall.