Pullman sees Airbnb boom during WSU graduation weekend

Washington State University’s spring commencement May 4 was a big money-making event for local Airbnbs.

According to the company, Airbnb hosts in Pullman raked in $67,000 that weekend after welcoming 450 guest arrivals. The 450 guests are an 80 percent increase over the 2018 spring commencement.

It was the biggest night for Airbnb guest arrivals in Pullman in the past year, followed by the WSU football game against Oregon on Oct. 20, the Apple Cup game on Nov. 23 and Mom’s Weekend last month.

There were 5,600 guest arrivals in the city for all of 2018.

Airbnbs and other short-term rentals are not allowed everywhere in Pullman. The Airbnb boom comes as the city is in the process of figuring out how many short-term rentals are in the city, where they are located and whether they are in compliance with city zoning code.

Pullman Planning Director Pete Dickinson said short-term rentals like Airbnbs are allowed in the R3 and R4 residential zones, prohibited in R1 and only allowed in R2 with a conditional use permit.

The city began taking a closer look at Airbnbs in response to a complaint that forced two Pullman residents to sell a home they were renting out through Airbnb and VRBO in an R2 residential zone late last year.

It was the first complaint the city has received about an Airbnb-type short-term rental; the city is obligated to investigate filed complaints.

Audience members at a Pullman Planning Commission meeting in March spoke in support of allowing Airbnbs in Pullman, including in R1 residential areas.

They said it provides valuable lodging for busy weekends, such as Washington State University football weekends. It can also provide much-needed extra income for the owner and cheaper options for those who cannot afford to stay in a hotel.

The Pullman Planning Commission expressed support in looking at amending the zoning code to add flexibility to short-term rental rules.

Dickinson on Monday said the city is looking at how other communities are addressing the issue of Airbnbs and may speak with city staff from those places to see what solutions work or do not work.

Dickinson said there will be a public hearing Monday for a conditional use permit application submitted for a short-term rental location on Ventura Court, an R2 designation.

He said it is the first short-term rental CUP application the city has seen since 2006.

Anthony Kuipers can be reached at (208) 883-4640, or by email to akuipers@dnews.com.