Short-Term Rental Laws in Astoria, Oregon

Astoria caps non-owner-occupied STRs in residential zones via a density-based system: no more than approximately 2% of dwelling units per Census Block Group can hold a non-owner-occupied STR license. Owner-occupied home-share STRs are permitted citywide without the density cap. Once a block group hits its 2% threshold, no new non-owner-occupied licenses issue there until existing ones lapse.

Owner-occupied home-share STRs allowed in all residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3, AS Aquatic-shoreland-residential). Non-owner-occupied/whole-home STRs subject to the 2%-per-block-group density cap in residential zones; broader permission in Commercial Mixed-Use (CMU) and Tourist Commercial. Astoria's historic downtown waterfront and Uniontown have higher concentrations of cap-eligible parcels. ADU STRs follow underlying zoning and the density cap.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Astoria Community Development Department administers with annual renewal. Application requires designated 24/7 local contact, proof of insurance, life-safety self-certification, parking plan, Oregon DOR + Clatsop County lodging tax registration. Density-cap denials are appealable. Operating without a permit: civil penalty + back-TLT + escalating daily fines. Code Enforcement cross-references Airbnb/Vrbo against the registry.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Astoria is approximately 11.500% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Oregon State lodging tax 1.5% + Clatsop County transient lodging tax 1% + Astoria city transient lodging tax 8% — combined ~11.5% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.