Short-term rentals are allowed in the following zones:

The town is further subdivided into seven districts with individual capacity limits on the number of short-term rentals permitted to operate concurrently, not to exceed a total cap of 18, as determined by the short-term rental district capacity map which shall be formally adopted and display the adoption date and ordinance number. The capacity limits do not apply within the commercial and historic commercial zones.

No person, firm, or corporation shall advertise or operate a short-term rental within the town without having first obtained a short-term rental license from the town.

STR applicants must apply for an STR license. The licensee for an STR under this section shall be the property owner. Unless renewed, the STR license shall expire annually on May 1st.

Beginning February 1, 2021, STR licenses will be processed on a first come, first served basis to new license applicants, after allowing for those previously legally licensed (vested) STRs which already exist. Once the number of new license applications exceeds the cap allowed in each district (after allowing for those already existing and vested), applications shall be selected at random from the wait list for processing. For each year thereafter, renewal applications shall be submitted between April 1st and April 15th each year in order to be considered for the next licensure term. Renewal applications for existing licensed properties shall be processed prior to the issuance of any new license to ensure that the district caps are not exceeded.

Town administration shall review the STR license application and if it complies with all zoning requirements and licensing review criteria and district caps have not been met, town administration will issue or renew an STR license. The approval may include reasonable conditions to ensure that the provisions of this chapter are achieved. If denied, the reasons for denial shall be stated in writing.

An STR license may be renewed if the responsible party meets renewal requirements including:

The town will hold and maintain a "wait list" of additional applicants and make selections at random when allowed by availability.

The applicant may make an appeal to the town clerk in writing of the approval, denial, or conditions of an STR license within 14 days of the determination.

Prior to receiving a license for a new STR, the applicant shall be required to have the prospective STR inspected by the appropriate departments of the town and to ensure compliance with building, fire, municipal and health codes including but not limited to:

For properties on septic systems, the maximum occupancy of each STR license shall be based on septic capacity as determined by a certified septic inspection.

Fees will be defined by the short-term rental licensing guidance document[1], which can be updated up to once annually by the town. The town is authorized to collect the following:

Management and Maintenance Criteria.

Land Use Criteria.

Violation of the noise ordinance, violation of occupancy loads, failure to use designated off-street parking, illegal conduct, or any other abuse which violates any law regarding use or occupancy of the premises or which violates any condition of approval of an issued short-term rental license is grounds for revocation. Failure to collect and pay the Skykomish lodging tax or any other past due fees or taxes is also a violation of the license and grounds for revocation.

When town administration determines that there is a reasonable basis for suspending or revoking a short-term rental license, the administrator shall notify the responsible party of the town's intention by regular and certified mail. The notice shall state the reason for the suspension or revocation, the date it will become effective, and describe the appeal process and fee. Suspension or revocation shall become effective 14 days after the date the notice is mailed unless the responsible party, within such 14-day period, files an appeal with the town mayor, together with the appeal fee. The responsible party shall state their reason for the appeal and/or what errors are alleged to have been made by the town in making its determination. Appeals shall be heard by the town mayor, whose decision shall be final.

If a license is suspended or revoked, all operation of the short-term rental use shall cease upon the effective date unless the appeal process has been initiated, in which case the suspension or revocation shall be stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. A suspended short-term rental license shall not be reinstated until the town mayor determines, in writing, that the basis for the suspension, together with any new conditions applied to the license, have been adequately addressed. If revoked, no new short-term rental license shall be issued for the property for the remaining term of the revoked license. Revocation of a license is grounds for denying any subsequent application.

The responsible party will be responsible for all costs associated with enforcement of the STR regulations including but not limited to any towing, reimbursement of the town for 911 calls, violation fines, legal costs and fees, and appeals fees.

Any person who advertises or operates a short-term rental without a valid short-term rental license or who fails to comply with any other provision of this chapter or a condition of license approval shall be deemed to be in violation of this chapter for each day during which the business is so engaged in or carried on. Any person who fails or refuses to pay a fee required under this chapter, or any part thereof, on or before the due date shall be deemed to be operating a short-term rental without having obtained a license.

Any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500.00 per violation and/or suspension or revocation of an issued short-term rental license. Each day of violation shall be considered a separate offense.