We've reached our goal in

funding our legal appeal

 with the State of Washington's

  Growth Management Hearings

Board!!

Thank you for your tremendous outpouring of support! 

What is the challenged action?

We're appealing the validity of Chelan County's new STR Resolution.

How can you help?

We have funded this phase of our legal appeal with the GMHB — please join us for our hearing this Thursday and  stay tuned for next steps in supporting this effort!  

What happened?

On July 27, 2021 -  Chelan County adopted a new resolution impacting Short-Term Rentals.

On the County's website:

Community Development's Short-Term Rental Site:

Short-Term Rental Code

STR documents and Zoom recordings

In the news:

Chelan County short-term rental appeals postponed

Chelan County Community Development director announces resignation

Short-term rental application deadline fast approaching

Complex code, paperwork may be why Chelan County is seeing so few short-term rental applications

Vacation hot spot Chelan County limits short-term rentals

How does this impact you?

Was your voice heard or was this code a surprise?   

• Was your voice represented in the code development process or were you ignored?

• Were you provided adequate notice about the STR code development or did these new regulations take you by surprise? 

• Did your read of the Short-Term Rental Code provide you with clear, straightforward guidance or did it leave you feeling more frustrated and confused?

What's your application status?

• How did you feel about your own STR application? Are you feeling confident that you will be approved?  

• If you've gotten your new Provisional STR Permit, have you thought about what "provisional" really means?  How confident are you that this will translate into a full permit?  What does your approval depend on, and when do you expect to get it? 

• Will you truly be "grandfathered", operating as you were?  

• Was your new STR Permit application denied?  (You've got 10 business days to file an appeal!)

• How will the new 6% STR cap impact you if you are not able to get a legal-nonconforming permit?  
• Will the new code make it more difficult to make your mortgage payments and will you be forced to sell at a loss?   

Concerned about what's next? 

• Are you concerned about how these new regulations will limit tourism and impact the local economy, your employment or your small business?

• Are you concerned that these regulations are just the beginning?  A few articles...

  • Illegally converted buildings could block short-term rentals | Wenatchee World

  • Oregon coast’s Lincoln County votes to restrict vacation rentals | The Seattle Times

What's the desired outcome?

In the broadest possible sense, we are seeking a ruling that would invalidate Chelan County's new STR Resolution.  

Petitioners request that the Board rule the STR Resolution to be noncompliant with the
GMA and remand the challenged action to the jurisdiction to take the necessary legislative actions for it to be compliant with the GMA.

Petitioners further request that the Board determine that the continued validity of the STR
Resolution would substantially interfere with the fulfillment of the goals of the GMA and issue an order of invalidity as to the STR Resolution.

What's happened so far? 

• Launched initial Fundrazr Campaign to support legal action – 8/23/21
• Raised $80k+ via 44 contributors in 2.5 weeks – 9/8/21
• Our legal team at Cairncross & Hempelmann filed GMHB Petition – 9/29/21
  • 74+ individuals named
  • 150+ total members/supporters
  • 120+ homes and growing
• Pre-Hearing Conference – 10/22/21
• Received Indexed Record from Chelan County (>20k documents) – 11/19/21
• Reviewed Indexed Record, notified County of omissions and filed an Amended Index – 11/23/21
• We (CLOCC) filed our Pre-Hearing Brief –  1/3/22
• RUN filed their Amicus Pre-hearing Brief – 1/21/22
• Chelan County filed their Respondents Prehearing Brief – 1/26/22
  
• We (CLOCC) filed our Pre-Hearing Brief – 2 /10/22