HomeMy WebLinkAbout041124 email - STR moratoriumALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Commissioners,
According to today’s article in the PDN re STR moratorium <https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/jefferson-enacts-1-year-moratorium-on-strs/> :
“Dean said existing STRs, even unpermitted ones, can continue to operate as normal, at least until new regulations are passed.”
The moratorium that was passed by the BoCC on April 8 says no such thing.
Many (likely most) of the existing, unpermitted STRs are out of compliance with county codes, particularly when it comes to health and safety. They usually lack adequate (or any) septic
capacity, they don’t have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, etc.
Allowing any such unsafe STRs to continue to “operate as normal” is simply wrong and creates a liability for the county. Imagine if someone is injured or killed in a fire in an unpermitted
STR that is known to the county to be out of compliance (e.g., a complaint has been filed with DCD Enforcement).
The county could – and should – be held liable in that situation because it failed to take the steps necessary to protect renters from injury/death.
I urge you to print a retraction and correction of the statement that I quoted from the PDN article, making it clear that existing STRs must cease operating until their rentals are brought
into full compliance with all existing county codes (building, health, fire, …).
Thank you,
Tom Thiersch