The Pacific County Health and Human Services Department, in conjunction with the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center, issued a letter Monday formally requesting that people who own second homes or properties in Pacific County not visit them until Gov. Jay Inslee lifts the statewide “Stay at Home, Stay Healthy” mandate.
Pacific County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Steven Krager reissued an amended beach approach and hospitality lodging closure Thursday, adding more guidance for homeowners in the county who do not live in the area full time. The order also added limitations about any future long term rentals 30 days or more by banning any new rentals after April 9.
“Second homeowners and members of their households may still visit their properties, but we are discouraging you from doing so,” read the letter, distributed by Pacific County Emergency Operations Center information officer Pat Matlock. “We want to emphasize that visiting a second home or property for anything other than essential business violates the governor’s non-essential travel ban. We also wish to reinforce that allowing others to use a person’s second home also violates the governor’s ban, and Pacific County intends to enforce this.”
According to the letter, if you own a property within Pacific County, you are not allowed under the current order to rent your property to others for vacation purposes. If you have ads or any other promotional information regarding the rental of your property for anything other than “essential needs” you must discontinue them or add a disclaimer stating that the property is unavailable. Any violation of these parameters that are substantiated will be enforced, read the letter.
Violators of the ban can be punished by a fine, up to 90 days in jail or both.
There are exceptions for people who have lived in hospitality lodging since March 17 or are:
Employed by a hospitality lodging business.
Working directly on the COVID-19 response, such as health care workers, first responders, National Guard members, law enforcement as well as any local, state and federal government employees.
Required by their work to ship deliveries to the county, such as truck drivers and service providers.
Using a government or non-profit voucher to live in hospitality lodging
Living in hospitality lodging as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, or otherwise as a result of being a victim of crime.
Hospitality lodging includes resorts, hotels and motels; short-term rentals, timeshares, staying in a home hotel such as in a bed and breakfast; campgrounds; RV parks; and private property being used as campgrounds. Hospitality lodging does not include emergency shelters, quarantine facilities or isolation housing.
“The spirit of this order is not meant to be punitive to those who may fall into the above categories. The order is meant to help protect Pacific County’s limited resources for things such as grocery store supplies and health care facilities,” read the letter. “The COVID-19 pandemic has altered everyone’s daily lives. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you back to the area as soon as it is safe to do so.”
People with questions about the order, or who wish to request an exception be granted to them, are asked to call the Pacific County Emergency Operations Center Monday-Friday at 360-875-9407 or 360-642-9407. The full health officer order and other updated Pacific County Covid-19 related information can be found at https://www.pacificcountycovid19.com.
