THURSDAY October 1, 2026|
Photo – Building in Encampment – Bigfoot99 file photo
Encampment officials are unsure how to limit short‑term rentals but agreed an ordinance change is necessary.
Last year, Encampment residents began raising concerns about the growing number of short‑term rentals in town. Opponents argued that the increasing popularity of online lodging platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo was limiting the availability of affordable housing and contributing to a decline in service‑industry workers.
To curb the influx of short‑term rentals and lodging houses, the Encampment Town Council adopted Resolution 2025‑07 last October, which placed a moratorium on short‑term rental conditional use permits. The measure has remained in effect while town officials study how temporary lodging affects property values, resident safety, and the availability of long‑term housing. At this time, 15 properties hold short‑term rental permits, though some are not currently available for rent.
The Encampment Town Council held a special workshop on August 20th to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of short-term rentals. There, Councilman Steve Reichert explained that last year’s sudden rise in short‑term rental conditional use permit applications was unusual and that no one has applied for a rental permit since the moratorium was enacted.
Planning Commission member Carl Lembke explained that an attorney advised the town to rescind the October moratorium and replace it with an official ordinance. In addition, Lembke said the attorney urged the governing body to consider the legal liability tied to property rights when crafting a short‑term rental ordinance.
In order to legally control the number and location of short‑term rentals, two existing ordinances would need to be amended: Ordinance 17.04.050, Continuation of Existing Uses and Structures, and Ordinance 17.24.030, Conditional Uses.
The Continuation of Existing Uses and Structures ordinance states that any activity allowed under a conditional use permit, such as a short‑term rental, remains attached to the property even if it is sold. Planning Commission member Carl Lembke recommended amending the regulation to link the conditional use permit to the property owner, not the property itself.
Other meeting attendees suggested a license with an annual renewal fee, occupancy limits, and requiring regular checks for safety equipment.
The discussion moved to how to ensure the properties were paying state and local lodging taxes. It was noted that online short-term rental companies, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, automatically collect lodging taxes. However, Planning Commission member Lembke said property owners could simply create their own website or choose not to advertise online. A meeting attendee recommended making lodging‑tax registration a prerequisite for a conditional use permit.
It was also mentioned that the town of Jackson already has an established short‑term rental policy that Encampment could use as a model for its own regulations.
In the end, it was agreed that the town’s ordinances, particularly those governing conditional use permits, must be amended to include new language addressing short‑term rentals. The Encampment Town Council will likely consider the suggested changes during an upcoming meeting. Any amendment to municipal ordinances must be read and passed three times during three separate public hearings before being adopted into law.
