Pacific City Vacation Rentals
Policy & community information
This is an information and collaboration site to help our community stay aware and involved in current and potential regulations affecting Pacific City and Tillamook County's vacation rental homes.
Stay up to date
A Tillamook County committee is currently re-drafting the ordinance that regulates vacation rental homes. Your opinion and story should be heard to help write this policy that will have vast implications throughout our communities.
Sign up for our email list and facebook page where we can exchange information, ideas, and work together for sensible, practical and livable policy regarding vacation rentals in Pacific City & throughout Tillamook County.
The numbers
In 2021, Pacific City lodging providers alone collected over 40% of the total TLT revenue in Tillamook County. That's over $2 million just from PC.
70% of TLT funds are from STRs
The 2019 housing study showed that over 67% of homes in Pacific City were 2nd homes (non-occupied).
Tillamook County has reported very few disturbances at licensed STRs. Less than 1% of police calls in the past 2 years were at STRs. A very small number of violations (non-signage related) were recorded in the past 2 years (less than 10/year throughout the whole county). Most were noise/dog/parking and swiftly resolved by local representatives.
TLT funded Project examples
benefits to preserve
Affordable family vacations
There are very few hotel rooms in South Tillamook County. Vacation rentals provide a home-base that has given so many Oregonians cherished family beach memories, and connected them to a broader appreciation for our coastal environment.
Our beaches should not only be accessible to wealthy homeowners who can afford not to share their home.
Our region is and always has been a tourist destination for beach and nature lovers. Without vacation homes, who could afford to bring their family to the beach?
Property Rights
Many STR owners are looking forward to retiring full-time to their beach home. They require this supplemental income to help maintain and keep their family home.
The recent 'pause' on new STR permits created a flood of new STR applications. Most did not want to immediately rent their homes, but wanted to preserve their property rights.
Reasonable regulation like safety inspections and code-enforcement make sure that our local vacation homes maintain higher standards than non-STRs.
Unlike permanent residents and long term rentals, short term rentals are required to have garbage service, occupancy limits, parking rules, and are subject to periodic safety inspections. They are held to higher standards and are willing to follow these rules to preserve the right to rent.
economic factors
Vacation rental homes are expensive to preserve. Owners use local repair companies, electricians, contractors, plumbers, building and furniture supply stores, and more.
This side-effect of vacation rentals has countless benefits to local businesses, employers and their teams. Not to mention our communities benefit from quality restaurants and other services provided for guests and locals.
STRs help provide good jobs in Tillamook County. A recent local survey showed that the average wage range was $20-48/hour at vacation rental management companies.
SENSIBLE
& FAIR REGULATION
Many communities
are facing challenges of over-tourism, housing issues & livability
concerns. Although these global issues are often attributed to vacation
rentals, it is never that simple. It is possible to create a balanced approach
to regulation that prioritizes safety, community, livability, property rights,
and economic stability.
It is in everyone's best interest to preserve STR benefits and save our county from the years of ongoing expense, time and legal fights that we have seen with our neighboring communities.
The basic fact is that when you over-regulate STRs, you lose the good (family operated, small, community oriented) owners and managers. The only people who can afford to adhere to mounting expectations and fees, are large, multi-destination managers and investors.
After hearing from many sides and opinions, the County's STR committee has agreed that we want to preserve & support the small operators, as they contribute to a healthy economy, and are personally and economically invested in Tillamook County and making it a better place to live and visit.
Tillamook County's current STR program currently has the highest regulatory compliance in the state. This is because the rules have been balanced, fair and relatively easy to follow.