Portland City Hall Preparing to Compel Airbnb Safety Inspections

By AARON MESH

Portland city officials say they will finally crack down on Airbnb hosts who don't get safety inspections.

WW reported last month that only 4 percent of Airbnb hosts in Portland had bothered to seek a city permit to operate. Getting a permit requires paying a $180 fee, agreeing to operate under new city rules and passing a safety inspection.

Portland Revenue Bureau director Thomas Lannom has drafted an ordinance that would penalize Airbnb and other online rental marketplaces $500 each time they don't display a host's city permit number on their website.

Mayor Charlie Hales said last month he was content to let Airbnb hosts seek permits at their own pace. Since WW's story, however, Hales asked for the enforcement ordinance.

The City Council will consider it Dec. 18.

With the new rule, says City Commissioner Nick Fish, who pushed for the change, "We're insisting that the booking agents not advertise rogue hosts."

WWeek 2015

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