PULLMAN, WA – The City of Pullman is using one generalized complaint to crackdown on illegal short term rental operators.
In May Pullman City Council voted four to two to approve controversial new regulations on the popular side hustle. The new rules went into effect in June. They require operators of Airbnb’s and VRBO’s to have a business license.
Emergency evacuation plans must be approved by the city which need to include lighted emergency exit signs and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. There are restrictions on occupancy and requirements for an approved inspection from a city building official. Annual permits are now required to advertise online as a short term rental. The initial permit application fee is 200 dollars. Annual permit renewals are free.
Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin stated on several occasions that enforcement of the new rules would be complaint driven. That enforcement policy has been triggered by one general complaint. The City of Pullman’s spokeswoman Meghan Ferrin tells Pullman Radio News that a short term rental operator was in contact with the city about being out of compliance with the new restrictions. Ferrin says that one person complained about other operators not being brought into compliance. That complaint has led city staff to work with Airbnb and VRBO to identify the illegal short term rentals in the city. Ferrin says that 57 letters were sent to those illegal operators earlier this month.
Those letters threaten the operators to become complaint or face enforcement actions starting January 1st. Violators face fines of up to 250 dollars a day maxing out at 5,000 dollars.
The issue was brought to Pullman City Council’s attention during their meeting this week. Trevor Vance is in a challenged race for an open council seat this fall. Vance questioned council about the short term rental crackdown. You can listen to his comments to council below.
Pullman’s senior most Councilmembers Nathan Weller and Pat Wright voted against the short term rental restrictions. Both of them thanked Vance for bringing forward the issue and stated they will look into it. Councilwoman Ann Parks didn’t vote on the rules as she had an excused absence for that meeting in May. It was Councilmembers Eric Fejeran, Carla de Lira, Megan Guido and former Councilman Trymaine Gaither who voted for the rules. Councilwoman Guido initially expressed concerns with the restrictions before voting for approval.
Pullman Radio News has reached out to Mayor Benjamin for further comment about the crackdown based on one general complaint. Mayor Benjamin has not responded to that request.
The City of Pullman’s Planning Commission spent years reviewing the hot button issue. Hundreds of short term rentals have been listed as Pullman locations on Airbnb alone especially during Washington State University home football weekends. Before the new regulations Pullman short term rentals were required to receive a Conditional Use Permit from the city’s hearing examiner. At that time there were only about a dozen legal operators in Pullman.
The staff effort to pursue and craft the short term rental restrictions came from City of Pullman Assistant City Planner Ariel Medeiros. The form letter threatening those out of compliance operators is signed by Medeiros.
