Community Development

New STR-  Application Process

Application Window: June 1-July 31 for Tier 2 and Tier 3. Applications for Tier 1 are accepted all year.

Brochures: English     Spanish

Applications for new Tier 2 and Tier 3 short-term rentals are accepted annually June 1 - July 31 for areas that have capacity within the cap limits. They will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. This applies to all methods of submission.  Tier 1 applications are acccepted year round.

There is a limit to the number of Tier 2 and Tier 3 STRs allowed in Chelan County. Refer to Chelan County Code 11.88.290 for specific information.

You can now apply and pay for your STR application online!! To do this, please follow this this link to Deckard .

If you submit your application through the Deckard portal, you can pay online as well through their payment portal, Stripe.

Privacy Policy:  The security of your personal information is important to us. We only collect information about the transactions you undertake including details of payment. When you enter sensitive information (such as a credit card number) we encrypt that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL).  Chelan County is subject to the Public Records Act, Ch. 42.56 RCW, and although payment details would be presumed exempt from disclosure, Chelan County cannot guarantee exemptions will always apply.  Please contact the Community Development Department if you would prefer to use alternative payment methods.

Just as the County charges a vendor fee for paying with a credit/debit card, Stripe charges a 0.8% transaction fee for standard ACH payments, up to a maximum of $5.00. For accelerated ACH direct debit transactions (two-day or instant bank account validation), Stripe charges 1.2% and $1.50 respectively. It's worth mentioning that there are also fees for failed and disputed payments.

Stripe credit card fees are a percentage of the transaction amount (2.9%) plus a fixed fee of $0.30. That’s on every transaction you receive.This is on par with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Alipay.  If you choose to pay with a check throught he Deckard portal, you can enter the information into the system and it will provide you with a reference number to put on your check that you can then mail to us.

Options to the online application are either to submit in person, via mail, or via email. If mailing, we recommend sending your application via a method that provides tracking. The timeline listed above is for owners/property managers to submit their application materials. STR staff then review and get back to the applicant with a determination. The length of tim ethis process takes varies greatly from one property the another and is also dependent on the completeness the submission materials.

A checklist of necessary items for submission is available to help you through the application process. To hand in a complete application, you will need to:

1. Complete a Short Term Rental Application
2. Submit a Property Management Plan with all additional required documentation with your application. See additional fire resources further down this page.
3. Good Neighbor Guidelines: English     Spanish
4. Check your onsite Sewage/Septic. If you are on septic, submit a copy with your application. If you are on sewer, submit a copy of the most recent bill for the STR address with your application.
5. Purchase Liability Insurance and submit a copy of at least the declarations page showing the liability coverage limit with your application showing you have a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance for the rental. A short-term rental operator must maintain primary liability insurance to cover the short-term rental dwelling unit in the aggregate of not less than $1 million. If an owner conducts short-term rental transactions through a platform that claims to provide equal or greater primary liability insurance coverage, the recommendation would be to review that offer of 'insurance' with an insurance professional or an attorney to be sure it meets the criteria.  Liability insurance helps pay to repair another person's (your renter or guests) property or for their medical bills if the policy holder is found responsible for causing damage or injuries.
6. Complete any additional necessary land use permits (Do you also need a Conditional Use Permit for your project?)
7. STR Pre-Inspection Checklist  (complete all pages; using Chrome browser works best).

Application Submission

The preferred method of submission is via the Deckard portal.  This lets you enter you own information and are assured of when it was submitted as you will receive a notice of submission. Do not submit your application prior to the application window start date for Tier 2 or Tier 3; we will not look at new STR applications before the opening date and we will return any received before the window opens. If you do choose to submit via email, please send to CD.STR.applications@co.chelan.wa.us  This email address is for submissions only; do not send questions or they may go unanswered.

Have more question? Please check out the Frequently Asked Questions section here.  If this doesn't answer your questions, please reach out to staff.

Application Tips

• If submitting electronically, each document being submitted needs to be saved separately in PDF format and named appropriately (Application, Property Management Plan, Septic Permit, etc.). Please attach all documents for your submittal individually to application or upload them to the correct document spot in Deckard. We do not accept links to Google Docs or zip files.
• If you prefer, you can also submit your application in person or by mail to: Community Development: STR Department, 316 Washington St., suite 301, Wenatchee, 98801. When received, the applicationt will be added to those already submitted and will be reviewed in the order received. While we do nott require the use of a tracked-mailing service, it may offer you assurance that your application was delivered.
• Once complete application materials are submitted and fees paid, the Community Development STR staff will review. If all is approved, a short-term rental permit will be issued.  When you receive your final permit, a copy of the signed permit must be returned to the department for your file.

• Please note that due to the volume of permits handled, staff will not respond to requests for where your permit is in line or when your permit process will be complete. We will do our best to achnowledge receipt of application emails.

• An STR owner or operator must include the Chelan County STR permit number in all advertisements and must ensure it is displayed prominently on platforms and other forums for rental (AirBnB, VRBO, Craigslist, a poster, etc.) and on marketing materials, such as brochures and websites.

Renewal STR Permit Process

Renewal Application Window: Sept. 1 - Oct. 31

You can now renew and pay for your STR online!! To do this, please follow this this link to Deckard .

If you submit your application through the Deckard portal, you can pay online as well through their payment portal, Stripe.

Privacy Policy:  The security of your personal information is important to us. We only collect information about the transactions you undertake including details of payment. When you enter sensitive information (such as a credit card number) we encrypt that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL).  Chelan County is subject to the Public Records Act, Ch. 42.56 RCW, and although payment details would be presumed exempt from disclosure, Chelan County cannot guarantee exemptions will always apply.  Please contact the Community Development Department if you would prefer to use alternative payment methods.

Just as the County charges a vendor fee for paying with a credit/debit card, Stripe charges a 0.8% transaction fee for standard ACH payments, up to a maximum of $5.00. For accelerated ACH direct debit transactions (two-day or instant bank account validation), Stripe charges 1.2% and $1.50 respectively. It's worth mentioning that there are also fees for failed and disputed payments.

Stripe credit card fees are a percentage of the transaction amount (2.9%) plus a fixed fee of $0.30. That’s on every transaction you receive.This is on par with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Alipay.  If you choose to pay with a check throught he Deckard portal, you can enter the information into the system and it will provide you with a reference number to put on your check that you can then mail to us.

Outside of the online renewal, renewal applications may be submitted in person or via mail. If mailing, we recommend sending your application via a method that provides tracking. The timeline listed above is for owners/property managers to submit their renewal materials. STR staff then have until Dec. 31 to process all renewals and get them back to owners before the next permit year begins.

Submission

For the STR permit renewal process, you will need: 

1. Short Term Rental Renewal Application

2. STR Self-Certification Checklist: for the fire safety requirement (best if use Chrome browser)

3. Photographic Proof of Sign or, if you have been granted a sign variance, proof of your annual mailings (copies of the registered mailing receipts with addresses of where sent and a copy of the letter).

4. When you receive your final permit, a copy of the signed permit must be returned to the department for your file.

5. The only other forms required to be submitted with renewals are circumstantial (see below)

Please do not submit your renewal application prior to the application window start date (Sept. 1-Oct. 31). We will not look at STR applications before the opening date and we will return any received before the window opens. If you do choose to submit electronically, you can send them via email at CD.STR.applications@co.chelan.wa.us  This email address is primarily for submissions; questions submitted here may have a delay in response. 

An STR owner or operator must include the Chelan County STR permit number in all advertisements and must ensure it is displayed prominently on platforms and other forums for rental (AirBnB, VRBO, Craigslist, a poster, etc.) and on marketing materials, such as brochures and websites.

Did any of your information change during the year?  

• Did you change your property management company or qualified person?
• Did your septic get upgraded?
• Did your contact information change?

If so, then you will need to submit an updated Property Management Plan, Good Neighbor Guidelines and copies of new septic information and you may need to update your sign. Please make sure your mailing address is correct with the Chelan County Assessor's Office as well. 

STR Permit Transfer

Are you the new owner of a permitted STR? 

If you are a new owner of a property that currently has a short-term rental permit, the permit may or may not be transferable, depending on your specific situation. Contact department staff to find out. If the permit is transferable, it must be transferred to the new owner's name within 30 days of closing and you will need to submit the following forms along with a request to transfer the permit:

• Application
• Property Management Plan
• Good Neighbor Guidelines
• Proof of $1 million in liability insurance for the rental property showing the liability coverage limit with your application showing you have a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance for the rental. A short-term rental operator must maintain primary liability insurance to cover the short-term rental dwelling unit in the aggregate of not less than $1 million. If an owner conducts short-term rental transactions through a platform that claims to provide equal or greater primary liability insurance coverage, the recommendation would be to review that offer of 'insurance' with an insurance professional or an attorney to be sure it meets the criteria.  Liability insurance helps pay to repair another person's (your renter or guests) property or for their medical bills if the policy holder is found responsible for causing damage or injuries.
• May require new sign if the qualified person/phone number changes and you will need to send in a photo of the new, posted sign

Application Tips

• If submitting electronically, each document being submitted needs to be saved separately in PDF format and named appropriately (Application, Property Management Plan, Septic Permit, etc.). Attach all documents for your submittal individually to application. We do not accept links to Google Docs or zip files or electronic signatures or photos of documents.
• If you would prefer, you can also submit your application in person or by mail to: Community Development: STR Department, 316 Washington St., suite 301, Wenatchee, 98801. When received, it will be added to those already submitted and will be reviewed in the order received. While we do not require the use of a tracked mailing service but, they do offer you assurance your application was delivered.
• An STR owner or operator must include the Chelan County STR permit number in all advertisements and must ensure it is displayed prominently on platforms and other forums for rental (AirBnB, VRBO, Craigslist, a poster, etc.) and on marketing materials, such as brochures and websites.

Posted: 09/17/2021 08:47 AM
Last Updated: 11/05/2024 03:29 PM