After a mixed result from the Growth Management Hearings Board

We are appealing to SUPERIOR COURT

Permits are being denied, STRs are being shut down and the law CONTINUES TO STAND

Please DONATE NOW to allow our appeal to be heard!

How can you help?

We raised over $165k to fund our initial appeal.  For our case to be heard in Superior Court, a further $50k in legal funding is needed. You can donate on this page to help ensure we complete the appeal.

What happened?

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

In the news:

Apr 11, 2022 - Wenatchee World:  Short-term rental owners appeal to Douglas County Superior Court after application is rejected

Mar 25, 2022 - Wenatchee World:  Chelan County Short Term Rental Cose Gets Pass From State Board With One Problem

Mar 24, 2022 - NCWLIFE:  Growth Management Board rules against Chelan County on vacation rental rules, but lets them stand

Mar 24, 2022 - 560 KPQ: State Board Rules Chelan County Improperly Imposed Rules on Short Term Rental businesses

Dec 29, 2021 - Wenatchee World: Short-term rental application deadline fast approaching

Dec 28, 2021 -  Wenatchee World:  Chelan County Community Development director announces resignation

Oct 25, 2021 - Wenatchee World:  Complex code, paperwork may be why Chelan County is seeing so few short-term rental applications

Jul 27, 2021 - Seattle Times:   Vacation hot spot Chelan County limits short-term rentals

On the County's website:

Community Development's Short-Term Rental Site:

Short-Term Rental Code

STR documents and Zoom recordings

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.  

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
• The GMHB found in our favor on one point: failing to properly consult the public when a material change happened to the code after public participation had ended. 
• The GMHB found in the county's favor on the remaining points but we believe they eitehr side-stepped the issues or gave undue deference to the county
• We (CLOCC) filed our appeal to superior court on 4/25/22 - this was funded with funds already raised