🔓North OR Coast County softens STR rules re-opening popular vacation rental markets

[AJ Wong]

While many popular investment areas for short term vacation rentals are tightening regulations, the Oregon Coast continues to enact common sense rules that support both tourism and local housing. 

On the northern coast in Tillamook County Oregon vacation rental rules were recently expanded which reduced or eliminated the waitlist for a permit in several optimal areas including Manzanita, Pacific City, Nehalem and Netarts. 

As an example, in one area the waitlist was 20+ and growing with an anticipated wait-time of 1-2 years for many and those owners were permitted and the wait for a permit in that area currently stands at only two persons. 

For anyone seeking an Oregon Coast STR outside of Portland this Spring would be a good time to get ahead of the crowd.

So far in 2025 Oregon Coast Vacation rentals from Brookings to Astoria are seeing strong investor interest. We've had a handful of buyer transactions this year and each luxury turn-key listings had very high buyer interest and several with multiple offers. 

Surprisingly there are still several cities and counties that have minimal to no restrictions on vacation rental usages although there is some discussion about implementing more formal rules in unregulated areas. 

To date no jurisdiction has retroactively restricted vacation rentals on the coast, at most cities have implemented a CAP or maximum density or saturation of STR's in a particular area. During transition, operating STR's are typically allowed to apply and continue operating while unlicensed properties are subsequently subject to the CAP and usually need to join a waitlist.

Each city and county has very different rules, our advice is to always contact the land planning and usage department of the specific property prospect you're considering for verification on the STR licensing or permitting process.

[Michael Baum]

Wow! In a state where common sense can be in low supply it is good to see something like this.