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OLYMPIC PENINSULA LODGING ALLIANCE BLOG

Announcing Our New Olympic Peninsula Lodging Alliance

POSTED DECEMBER 18, 2023

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We would like to announce the launch of our new 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the Olympic Peninsula Lodging Alliance, formed in response to City of Port Angeles’ action that has forced closure of most of the city’s short-term rentals.

We are a coalition of homeowners, tourism-related businesses, service providers and others dedicated to support of the vacation rental community and other lodging options in Port Angeles and on the Olympic Peninsula.

In August this year, the City of Port Angeles began enforcement action based on a flawed 2017 zoning code that bans short-term rentals in low-density residential areas and allows them only in areas intended for commercial and other medium- and high-density uses, such as along transportation corridors, downtown and near the airport. We believe areas zoned for apartments, senior care facilities, the city’s juvenile detention facility and other high-density uses are incompatible with the purpose of family homes used for short-term rentals.

The City began enforcement action against STRs in low-density zones after years of collecting lodging taxes from them while looking the other way. Since 2017 more than $1 million has been raised. 

There are around 10,000 residences in Port Angeles, with about 200-300 of them (2-3 percent) short-term rentals. Meanwhile, the city’s hotel room count has declined in recent years.

The City Council’s enforcement action and threat of severe penalties has led to the closure of most of our city’s short-term rentals, putting hundreds of people out of work, from homeowners operating small businesses to cleaners, lawn-care workers, handymen and many others. We care deeply about our neighbors and feel that this action is a grave injustice for people who are maintaining well-kept homes and acting as ambassadors to our area for visitors from around the nation and abroad.

In coming months, the City will be considering whether to keep the 2017 code as-is or change the regulations. We have been issuing urgent pleas to the City to allow short-term rental owners to remain in business as they consider next steps, to allow STR owners and their employees financial relief and in an attempt to head off a domino effect of economic losses for our City. 

We believe we can work with the City to develop fair and balanced regulations that support our city’s tourism economy while ensuring that short-term rentals remain an important part of the lodging mix.

Please visit our website, which is continually refreshed with the latest information. Just as importantly, please join our Facebook group, where you can stay in touch with up-to-the-minute information and volunteer for the cause. 

Your support means a lot to us. We look forward to partnering with you and others in the community as we advocate on behalf of our friends, neighbors and many others for this important economic issue.

Thanks for reading! We promise not to over-fill your in-box but look forward to keeping you up on all the latest. 

We ❤️ our short-term rentals!

Best,

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