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January 15, 2019
Public survey launched to inform future policy for short-term vacation rentals in Kitsap County
Kitsap County Commissioners are launching a new effort to gather public input and reach out to residents about how short-term vacation rentals benefit our communities and affect residential neighborhoods. A survey is open now through Feb. 28 and citizens are asked to share their experiences of staying in vacation rentals, living nearby rentals, serving as host or manager of a site, or as property owner of a vacation rental.
Click here to learn more and find a link to the online survey or go to the survey directly at http://kcowa.us/strsurvey.
Short-term vacation rentals are popular alternatives to traditional lodging and hundreds have sprouted up in unincorporated areas of Kitsap County. Vacation rentals can fill the gaps left by a lack of hotels and inns, provide supplemental income to property owners and support tourism, which in turn, helps local communities. But the growth of these short-term accommodations has also raised safety concerns and led to impacts to neighbors including noise, disrespectful guests, parking and intrusions onto private shorelines.
This effort is underway to collect public opinion, hear directly from citizens and review current code before any new regulations are proposed. It is intended to inform policy on short-term rentals in ways that protect consumers, uphold building safety, and prevent adverse community impacts.
To take the survey, click here. Public meetings will be scheduled this winter and announced at a later date, along with other opportunities to provide comment.
For more information on short-term vacation rental policy development and public outreach, to submit public comment, and to sign up to receive project updates automatically, visit the project website or contact Eric Baker in the Commissioners' Office at (360) 337-4495, ebaker@co.kitsap.wa.us.
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