Ordinance No. 2024-18 Amendment of Short-Term Rentals Ordinance (Approved 072324) Page 1 of 3
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-18
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington, amending
Section 5.38.050.A, B, C, and E of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code (BIMC)
regarding short-term rentals.
WHEREAS, on February 13, 2024, the Bainbridge Island City Council adopted
Ordinance No. 2024-02, establishing short-term rental regulations as BIMC 5.38; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2024-02 becomes effective on September 30, 2024; and
WHEREAS, since the adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-02, the City Manager has
received additional input from innkeepers engaged in the short-term rental business and has
recommended some amendments to BIMC 5.38 in accordance with that input and to enable
easier implementation of the short-term rental regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the City Manager’s recommendations and
has decided to make the revisions to BIMC 5.38.050.A, B, C, and E set forth in this ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND, WASHINGTON, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Contents of Short-Term Rental Applications. BIMC 5.38.050.A.9, as
adopted by Ordinance No. 2024-02, is hereby amended to require the following to be provided
on the application form:
9. A statement, prepared by the owner and submitted with the application,
confirming the owner’s intention to operate a short-term rental unit, the
The planned number of days per year the unit will be available for rent,
whether the owner will reside on the property while a portion of it is
available as a short-term rental unit, whether the owner occupies the short-
term rental unit in its entirety for part of the year, and if they intend to use
a property management company.
Section 2. Mailing of Notice – Fees. BIMC 5.38.050.B and C, as adopted by
Ordinance No. 2024-02, are hereby amended to read as follows:
B. Application and Mailing Fees. The initial application and any application
for renewal shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application and
renewal fee in an amount established by resolution of the city council.
The application fee shall be no greater that is necessary to cover the costs
of processing the application. In addition to the application fee, the
application shall be accompanied by a fee sufficient to cover the cost of
mailing the statement referred to in BIMC 5.38.050.A.9 to all the residents
and owners of property within 300 feet.
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C.Mailing of Notice. The City shall mail a copy of the statement prepared
by the owner and submitted with the notice of the application or renewal
to all residents and owners of property within 300 feet. The City will also
provide an opportunity for the owner to include an optional personal
message for all impacted neighbors. Short-term rental units that are the
primary residence of the owner and which the owner continues to occupy
during the short-term rental are exempt from the requirements of this
subsection.
Section 3. Term of Certificate. BIMC 5.38.050.E, as adopted by Ordinance No.
2024-02, is hereby amended to read as follows:
E.Term of Certificate. Short-term rental certificates shall be valid for one
year, from January 1 through December 31the date of issuance. The fee
will be prorated by month for the first year of application. Certificates
must be renewed annually for so long as the short-term rental unit remains
rented or offered for rent.
Section 4. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of
this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this ordinance be preempted by state
or federal law or regulation, such decision or preemption shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force September
30, 2024.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 23rd day of July, 2024.
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 23rd day of July, 2024.
Joe Deets, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Christine Brown, MMC, City Clerk
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FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: July 19, 2024
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: July 23, 2024
PUBLISHED: July 26, 2024
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 31, 2024
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-18