BI Council reviews proposed changes to short-term rental ordinance

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, March 31, 2026

The Bainbridge Island City Council reviewed proposed changes to the city’s short-term rental ordinance as part of its March 24 regular business meeting.

Several proposed changes include: clarifying the short-term rental definition to include units containing kitchenettes, bed and breakfasts, and only requiring notices for first-time registrations and not renewals, per city documents. As of March 24, the short-term rental portal has 136 licensed short-term rental properties. The city reported 182 applications, 107 new city business licences, with an approximate 88% registration rate.

Council forwarded the ordinance to a future study session. Council voted 6-0 in favor of the motion, with Councilmember Mike Nelson absent.

Interim city manager Ellen Schroer provided an overview of the work city staff have undergone regarding the proposed changes. “In the spirit of continuous improvement, we had a meeting with stakeholders and with some city staff, and are bringing some slight modifications to the code to you and to clarify some language, allow for enforcement if needed, with some properties, and to remove some requirements that weren’t having the intended effect. They were creating some confusion among community members and also just creating some additional mailing that didn’t seem to have the intended effect or benefit,” she said.

City management analyst Laura Shear said the city has met with the BI Chamber of Commerce and innkeepers forum, and received public feedback from residents, which influenced the proposed ordinance.

The city has had an ordinance since Sept. 30, 2024, requiring short-term rentals to have a license. “It is unlawful for any owner, agent, or broker to rent or offer to rent a short-term rental unit in the city of Bainbridge Island without first obtaining a short-term rental certificate from the city. A separate certificate is required for each short-term rental unit that will be separately rented or offered for rent,” per city documents.

During public comment, BI resident Eric Maisonpierre described his concerns with the short-term rental industry and local disruptions.

“I’m compelled to describe the short-term rental industry as a questionable business model. It has failed to create sustainable value for the broader community. Its primary benefits accrue to property owners, often limited liability corporations and their guests, while surrounding neighbors are left to absorb the negative impacts,” he said.

BI resident Bob Donaldson echoed similar sentiments.

“As Eric has pointed out, sometimes these large groups are coming in there that are uncontrollable, and for us as residents, it’s difficult to watch our neighborhood kind of decline with that type of activity. But the other part is (there) doesn’t seem to be anything from the owners of the short-term rentals that are providing restrictions for how many people can be there,” he said. Donaldson also said he’d like to see guidance about possible rules guests would need to follow.

Shannon Fitzgerald, a BI Airbnb host in the Rolling Bay area, spoke in support of the proposed changes. “I’m here in support of the changes to the regulation, which simplify and make things easier, but I’d like to apologize for the experiences that the people at Port Madison have had, and the regulation allows for a way to deal with that by reports to the police and following up on what they’re actually licensed to do,” she said. Fitzgerald said visitors and tourists spend money, which helps the local Bainbridge economy.

Councilmember Brenda Fantroy-Johnson said she understood concerns that were shared during public comment and asked her colleagues to consider the responsibility of the city.