Commission discusses ADUs, short-term rentals and water/resource limits in rural and resource lands

At the Jan. 15 workshop, planning staff flagged accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals as a policy area the comprehensive-plan update must address.

Scott Chesney told commissioners the county currently allows ADUs in rural classifications but not on resource lands and said the team will study whether allowing ADUs could help keep farm families on the land while balancing resource protection. "Spokane County does allow those in our rural classifications. We do not allow them in our resource land classifications," Chesney said.

He also cited concerns raised by FutureWise during recent legislative sessions that ADUs could double rural population and strain water supplies. "The reason stated, at least by FutureWise at the legislative session, is that it would put an undue burden on water resources and it would double the rural population," Chesney said, adding staff consider those points worthy and will examine them.

Commissioners asked how ADU rules would interact with short-term rentals. Chesney said a recent staff review found "thousands" of short-term rental listings in Spokane County outside incorporated cities and that enforcement and licensing are incomplete, complicating any policy that seeks to prioritize long-term affordable housing.

Public commenter Donna of Otis Orchards suggested limiting or banning short-term rentals as some European cities have done, and advocated stricter taxation or caps to align them with hotels. Chesney said enforcement, licensing and market behavior will be part of the analysis as the county crafts ADU and housing-related policies.

Next steps: staff will examine ADU policy options, consider short-term rental licensing/enforcement interactions, and include findings in the comprehensive-plan chapters that address affordable housing and resource protection.