posted September 12, 2025 – Property owners within Eastsound Village Commercial and Lopez Village Commercial land use designations must now obtain a provisional use permit through the Department of Community Development (DCD) to operate a vacation rental. Property owners with a vacation rental existing prior to June 25, 2025 will be granted a permit outside of the vacation rental permit caps if they apply by June 25, 2026, in accordance with Section 5 of Ordinance 10-2025.
Background
At the October 1, 2024, County Council meeting, the Council directed DCD to draft code amendments to require provisional use permits for vacation rentals of residences and accessory dwelling units in the Village Commercial land use designations in Eastsound and Lopez Village. Vacation rentals in these designations were previously allowed without a permit. Permits are required for vacation rentals in all other land use designations and are subject to the vacation rental permit caps established by Ordinance 05-2022, with the exception of Master Planned Resorts (MPRs).
Council met on June 10, 2025, where they held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance 10-2025. The ordinance amends SJCC 18.40.275 and land use tables within SJCC 18.30.465 and SJCC 18.30.750 to now require provisional use permits for vacation rentals in Eastsound and Lopez Village Commercial districts.
What’s Next?
Owners of properties within Eastsound Village Commercial and Lopez Village Commercial with vacation rentals in operation prior to the effective date of the ordinance (June 25, 2025) must apply for a provisional use permit through DCD by June 25, 2026 to continue operation of the vacation rental. Owners may verify existence of a vacation rental through criteria established by DCD as provided for in Section 5 of the Ordinance. Vacation rental operators must also submit a Certificate of Compliance to DCD on an annual basis thereafter. Property owners who do not apply for a permit by June 25, 2026 for their existing vacation rental will be subject to the vacation rental permit caps described in SJCC 18.40.275.
Vacation rental property owners in these land use designations can apply for a provisional use permit via the County’s website:
Learn more about vacation rentals in San Juan County here: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1579/Vacation-Rentals-Information-and-Applica
This Ordinance does not affect the new vacation rental application process. Applications for new vacation rentals are still on hold until a lottery application process is approved by Council.
About San Juan County’s Department of Community Development
San Juan County’s Department of Community Development is responsible for building permits and inspections, code enforcement, land use designations, long range planning, and more. The department’s main office is located at 135 Rhone Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Community Development, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1778/Community-Development.