🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Newberg, OR
Newberg Eyes Big Shakeup in STR Rules: Vote Looms After Months of Debate
Newberg Eyes Big Shakeup in STR Rules: Vote Looms After Months of Debate
After almost a year of public forums, planning commission reviews, and heated feedback from locals, Newberg’s City Council is set to decide on a new slate of STR regulations that could significantly change how vacation homes operate in town.
One of the biggest changes? The city wants to switch STR approval from a conditional use permit—requiring public hearings—to a special use permit, approved directly by staff. Opponents argue this silences neighborhood voices, while staff say it makes the process more efficient and consistent.
✨ There’s more. The proposed code amendments also include:
- Forcing rental platforms like Airbnb to collect city taxes on behalf of hosts.
- A 2% citywide cap on STRs based on the total number of households.
- A rule that property managers must live within 40 miles of the rental.
- Annual “good neighbor” notices for nearby homeowners.
- Bigger fines for operating without a permit, and better enforcement tech to catch violations.
- Limits on permit transfers when a property changes hands.
According to the city, this is a way to bring Newberg’s STR rules up to par with similar towns and curb the growing number of unregistered vacation homes—some of which haven’t paid the required transient lodging tax.
Community Development Director Scot Siegel noted that current STR laws lack teeth. Requiring platforms to collect taxes, he said, will boost compliance, especially when paired with software to monitor unpermitted rentals.
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So why now? City data shows Newberg has around 87 vacation rentals, with many clustered downtown. Public concern about “neighborhood character” has grown, especially with strangers constantly cycling in and out of residential areas.
Opposition is already brewing. Five residents submitted written comments ahead of the vote, with some fearing Newberg will lose its sense of community. “It feels like we’re trading neighbors for turnover,” one wrote.
Despite that, the planning commission gave its thumbs-up in May, and the council has already workshopped the proposal in multiple meetings.
What’s next? A final vote and likely a packed council chamber.
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