Chapter 8.30
SHORT-TERM OCCUPATION FACILITIES STANDARDS
Sections:
8.30.010 Adoption of Washington State Administrative Codes (WAC).
8.30.030 Inspections required.
8.30.050 Violations and enforcement.
8.30.010 Adoption of Washington State Administrative Codes (WAC).
The city of Ocean Shores adopts the following Washington State Administrative Codes (WACs) by reference. Each of these WACs are addressed and explained in the handbook:
WAC
246-360-001 Purpose.
246-360-010 Definitions.
246-360-020 Licensure.
246-360-030 Responsibilities and rights—Licensee.
246-360-035 Authority of the department.
246-360-040 Water supply and temperature control.
246-360-050 Sewage and liquid waste disposal.
246-360-070 Refuse and vectors.
246-360-080 Construction and maintenance.
246-360-090 Lodging units.
246-360-100 Bathrooms, water closets, and handwashing sinks.
246-360-110 Lodging unit kitchens.
246-360-120 Heating and cooling.
246-360-130 Lighting.
246-360-140 Ventilation.
246-360-150 Beds and bedding.
246-360-160 Food and beverage services.
246-360-180 Laundry.
246-360-200 Safety, chemical, and physical hazards.
246-360-220 Fire safety.
246-360-230 Rustic resorts.
246-360-500 Exemptions, State requirements.
246-360-990 Fees, State requirements.
(Ord. 1140 § 1, 2025)
8.30.020 Definitions.
In this chapter, wherever “hotel” is used it means hotels, motels, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, or any other thirty-day or less temporary lodging accommodation.
All definitions are as defined in WAC 246-360-010. (Ord. 1140 § 1, 2025)
8.30.030 Inspections required.
A. The inspection official shall inspect each hotel premises, to include the physical examination of an appropriate sampling of guest rooms, not less than once every twenty-four months, for compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The official may inspect or reinspect hotel premises more frequently and/or vary the number of guest rooms included in the sampling as deemed necessary and proper to achieve and maintain continuing compliance.
B. The hotel shall prominently display a copy of its operating certificate and any relevant inspection data in the lobby or other common areas accessible to guests. This ensures transparency and allows guests to verify the premises comply with health and safety regulations. Additionally, hotels must maintain an updated and accessible log of sanitation, maintenance, and health-related incidents. This log, along with corresponding corrective actions taken, shall be available upon request for review by the inspection official.
C. The inspection official may forgo a physical examination of rooms and conduct a records audit only when the hotel demonstrates to the satisfaction of the official that adequate cleaning, sanitation and maintenance operating procedures are in place to ensure compliance with this chapter and that the hotel makes such records, schedules, internal reports, or reliable third-party audits available to the official for review and evaluation.
Some of the criteria the inspecting official might consider are:
1. The hotel has undergone a comprehensive hotel chain or state Department of Health inspection within the preceding twenty-four months which substantially met or exceeded the standards established in this chapter.
2. The hotel provided the inspector with a copy of the inspection report to include the inspection date, the name and qualifications of the inspecting entity, and confirmation that all findings were resolved to the inspector’s satisfaction reflecting the city’s recognition of certified third-party inspections as a valid and efficient mechanism for maintaining public health and safety.
3. The inspector has determined the hotel to be in good standing with the city. Criteria for good standing include: if, within the preceding twenty-four months, it has:
a. Passed all city inspections without requiring a reinspection due to noncompliance;
b. Maintained documented compliance with the cleanliness, sanitation, and vermin control standards defined in Washington State Department of Health Transient Accommodations Resource Book;
c. Had no outstanding violations of this chapter or other applicable codes;
d. Had no substantiated public health or safety complaints resulting in enforcement action; and
e. Remained current on all required city licenses and fees.
D. In order to carry out the intent of this chapter, the inspection official is authorized to conduct inspections of hotel premises during normal business hours. In furtherance thereof, the official may, but is not required to, request of the hotel manager that a prescribed number of rent-ready guest rooms be made available for inspection and/or that the hotel’s cleaning, sanitation and maintenance records, schedules, internal reports, or third-party audits be made available for review and evaluation.
E. It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to fail or refuse a lawful request of the inspection official to inspect a hotel room or to produce for the official’s review and evaluation the records, schedules, internal reports, or third-party audits that the hotel relies upon or proffers as evidence of its compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1140 § 1, 2025)
8.30.040 Inspection fees.
A fee established by resolution of the city council may be charged to reimburse the city for all costs associated with the administration of this chapter. (Ord. 1140 § 1, 2025)
8.30.050 Violations and enforcement.
A. A facility commits an offense if it operates without a valid certificate of occupancy or contrary to or in violation of the terms or conditions of its certificate of occupancy.
B. A person commits an offense if the person commits any act forbidden or fails to perform any act required in this chapter.
C. Each violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense and each offense is punishable by a fine as specified in Section 1.20.010, Violation—Penalty.
D. Any condition reasonably believed to be imminently dangerous to the life, limb, health or safety of the occupants may be abated by the inspection official in accordance with state law and Ocean Shores Municipal Code (OSMC).
E. At the option of the inspection official, immediate enforcement may be temporarily abated if the owner agrees to a supervised compliance plan, demonstrates the ability to comply with the plan and makes continuing progress toward compliance.
F. This chapter shall be and is hereby declared to be cumulative of all other ordinances of the city of Ocean Shores; and this chapter shall not operate to repeal or affect any of such other ordinances except insofar as the provisions thereof might be inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this chapter, in which event such conflicting provisions, if any, in such other ordinance or ordinances are hereby repealed.
G. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
H. All the regulations provided in this chapter are hereby declared to be governmental and for the health, safety and welfare of the public. Any member of the city council or any city official or employee charged with the enforcement of this chapter, acting for the city of Ocean Shores in the discharge of his/her duties, shall not thereby render himself/herself personally liable; and he/she is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage that might accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his/her said duties.
(Ord. 1140 § 1, 2025)
8.30.060 Appeals.
A. Request for appeal shall be submitted in writing to the mayor. Within thirty days of receipt of the request, the mayor will add an appellate hearing to a regular city council meeting.
B. The city council, which is already authorized to rule on quasi-judicial matters, will adjourn and reconvene into an appellate hearing following established agenda procedures.
C. The appellate process will follow the intent and procedures outlined in Section 15.44.050, Appeal from order of building official.
(Ord. 1140 § 1, 2025)