Ephrata mulls AirBnB regulations

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council took a first look at proposed regulations for short-term room and house rentals on Wednesday, with several council members expressing concerns over what allowing residents to become AirBnB hosts would mean for on-street parking and home occupancy in the city.

“These are the first drafts of the regulations, from a 40,000 foot level,” said Ephrata Community Development Director Ron Sell. “We’re not down in the weeds yet.”

Sell said the council will need to determine if this kind of business activity is something the city wants to allow in all residential zones and consider how much business it might take away from hotels and motels in Ephrata.

But down in the weeds is where a couple of council members wanted to be.

“Where are we in regards to other communities?” asked councilmember Matt Moore, wanting to know where neighboring cities like Moses Lake were in regards to regulating in-home businesses like AirBnB.

“People say they want to allow this, but not next door,” Moore said. “This is a complex issue.”

Councilmember Kathleen Alstott said she was concerned that the proposed regulations seemed to leave too much undefined. And that left things open for abuse.

“The definitions puzzle me,” she said. “Guest room. Do we know what that is? I can see a house suddenly have four guest rooms — two bedrooms and a living room and dining room with pull-out couches.”

Sell responded that the regulations as drafted would allow up to two additional guest-rooms in any owner-occupied house, and would set the maximum occupancy of a house that is leased in part or in full at 10 people, including the owner.

However, Ephrata officials learned Wednesday that there currently is no limit to the number of people who may live under one roof in the city.

Moore said he was most concerned about the pressure too many homes hosting AirBnB clients would put on Ephrata’s already crowded city streets.

“Parking is a big thing, a big issue,” Moore said.

Both Sell and Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns explained that being an AirBnB host would require a business license and would allow for the kinds of inspection and approvals that all businesses need. As long as hosts arrange reservations and payment through AirBnB, the city will receive tax revenue, Sell explained.

Sell also said any business license for AirBnB hosts would also require off-street parking for each guest room.

Sell noted these proposed rules were only a first draft, and would be subject to public hearings by both the planning commission and the city council, Sell said.

“This is a new thing. I’m not opposed to new things, but we need to do it right, and navigate it well,” Allstot said.

The city council also agreed to review its building and zoning codes after a request from Justin Kooy, who was citied earlier this year for hosting guests in guest cottage in back of his home as part of AirBnB.

The city council also called for volunteers to help clean up Ephrata’s Lions Park this evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to bring their “favorite work gloves” and help clear brush, pick up trash, and do some minor repairs as the city readies the park for the summer.

Volunteers who help with the cleanup will be able to take part in a barbecue the city will host afterwards.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.