Project News

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MEETING LINK: Please email Mariah at MFrazier@masoncountywa.gov for link and password.

The Planning Advisory Commission is scheduled for a meeting on this topic on December 16, 2024 at 6pm. This meeting is a continuation of the public hearing that was held on October 21, 2024. Public comment was taken up to and during the October 21st meeting. The public comment portion of the meeting was closed.

• The PAC decided to spend additional time reviewing the draft and providing their suggested revisions. The draft regulations with PAC suggested revisions will be posted on the Meeting Information page, when available.
• Regulations will continue to be revised and shaped as the process moves from the Board of County Commissioners, the Planning Advisory Commission, and back to the Board.

Check back here for major milestones in project development. For step-by-step project development see the Meeting Information page.

Project Overview

The Planning Department has been directed by the Mason County Board of Commissioners to review the short-term vacation rental (Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, etc.) situation in Mason County. The County has never regulated, nor does it currently regulate short-term rentals. The state, however, enacted certain statutes, RCW 64.37, regarding short-term lodging rentals that became effective on July 28, 2019. Many counties and cities have already extended the statutes to encompass their own regulations based on the unique situation within their jurisdiction.

The Department has received an increasing number of reports from Mason County residents expressing concern over short-term rentals, especially on shoreline fronting lots. The concerns range from overuse of septic systems, beach trespassing and harvesting, and noise complaints. At the same time, the Department also knows that short-term vacation rentals may make shoreline residency more affordable for residents of the County as well as provide experiences for non-residents that may rarely be possible along with the financial boost to businesses that these guests may partake of.

This topic will also be relevant as the County updates the Comprehensive Plan which includes re-evaluating the vision for the County as well as revising the county-wide planning policies. Meetings on this process will also be starting soon.