Status: Approved
On August 4, 2025, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 2025-2935 updating the City's vacation rental home policy which becomes effective September 3, 2025. A copy of the ordinance is available HERE, and the City will be providing a FAQ and additional information on the updated requirements and standards.
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Project Timeline
- Task 1. Project Initiation (Completed October 2024)
- Joint Work Session of the City Council & Planning Commission: Scheduled for October 28th, 2024.
- Task 2. Community Engagement (August - December 2024)
- Community Listing with City Council (Completed)
- In-Person Community Open House: Details pending. Scheduled for November 20, 2024, at the Newberg Public Library (503 E Hancock Street) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- In-Person Vacation Rental Operator Forum: Details pending. Scheduled for December 3, 2024, at the Newberg Public Library (503 E Hancock Street) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Virtual Community Open House: Details pending. Scheduled for December 4, 2024, to occur online from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- DELIVERABLE: Community Engagement Summary Report
- Task 3. Policy Concept Development (December 2024 - January 2025)
- City Council Work Session
- DELIVERABLE: Concept Policy Outcomes Report
- Task 4. Planning Commission Review (April- May 2025)
- Planning Commission Work Session (April 10, 2025)
- Planning Commission Hearing (May 8, 2025)
- DELIVERABLE: Draft Development Code Amendment for Vacation Rental Regulations
- DELIVERABLE: Planning Commission Resolution for Recommendation to City Council
- Task 5. City Council Review & Adoption (June - July 2025)
- City Council Work Session (June 10, 2025)
- City Council Adoption Hearings (August 4, 2025)
- DELIVERABLE: Ordinance for Updated Vacation Rental Regulations
- Task 6. Post-Adoptions Activities (To be determined)
- Task 7. Operational Change Management (Ongoing, September 2024 - June 2025)
- Vacation Rental Software Procurement
- Business License Updates
Background Information
On March 4, 2024, the Newberg City Council directed the Community Development Department to initiate a project to update regulations and activities associated with the regulation of vacation rental homes - also referred to as 'short-term rentals' - in Newberg. Leading up to that direction from City Council, CIty staff had conducted research, interacted extensively the City's Ad-Hoc Short Term Rental Committee and Planning Commission, and received additional input from the Newberg-Dundee Police Department on the existing conditions related vacation rental homes. Other milestones that led to this decision included:
- September 28, November 3, November 13, December 7, 2023, and February 1, 2024: the Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee met to receive information from staff on existing vacation rental home policy, review the recommendation from the Planning Commission, and develop recommendations for updates to the vacation rental home policy for City Council’s consideration. The meetings included discussion on the pros and cons of vacation rental homes; land use application procedures; improving operator compliance, including transient lodging tax remittances, business licenses, and land use permitting approvals; software options for short-term rental program management by City staff; and criteria enhancements related to Newberg Municipal Code requirements. The City's research white paper, Planning Commission recommendations, and Ad Hoc Committee's recommendations can be found at the bottom of the page.
- October 26, 2023: The Newberg-Dundee Police Department provided the Community Development Department with correspondence following a comparison of short-term rental locations and complaints received by NDPD. No correlation was observed between short-term rental locations and an increase in resident complaints received by NDPD.
- September 5, 2023: City Council received a request to establish a temporary moratorium on new vacation rental home applications from the Newberg Planning Commission and established an ad hoc committee to study potential short-term rental regulation and policy updates.
- August 10 and September 14, 2023: Planning Division staff presented Short-Term Rental Regulations White Paper to the Planning Commission and discussed Planning Commission recommendations to the City Council.
Staff Contacts
- James Dingwall, Associate Planner (503-554-7764, james.dingwall@newbergoregon.gov)
