Short-Term Rentals in Benton County, OR (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Benton County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
In unincorporated Benton County, renting out a dwelling for less than a month is not treated as ordinary residential use: County Code classifies any short-term rental as a home occupation. Every short-term rental must therefore meet the home occupation standards at BCC 91.205 through 91.215, and a rental operated out of an accessory structure needs a permit that the Community Development Department renews every two years.
Benton County Short-Term Rental Permits
Some RestrictionsBenton County Code §§ 31.125(3), 51.020(12), 91.200(1), 91.205(6)
(3)In addition to any other remedy provided by law to the County, the County may seek a fine of $500 for each separate violation and a fine of $1,000 for a continuing violation of any County ordinance, pursuant to this ordinance. ... (12)"Dwelling" means a single-family dwelling, as further defined below for purposes of this Development Code. ... This type of use is distinct from a short-term r...
Noise Rules
Benton County treats a short-term rental of an ordinary dwelling as a home occupation under BCC § 51.020(12), which pulls in the home occupation rule that the use must produce no noise, odor, vibration, glare, or fumes detectable outside the structure, under BCC §§ 91.205, 91.210 or 91.215 depending on lot size.
Benton County STR Noise Standard
Significant RestrictionsBenton County Code § 51.020(12); § 91.210(3)
This type of use is distinct from a short-term rental use (defined as rental of a dwelling for less than a 1-month period) which is considered a home occupation and allowed subject to the applicable standards for home occupations in this code. ... (3)Produce no noise or obnoxious odors, vibrations, glare, or fumes detectable to normal sensory perception outside the structure;
Taxes & Fees
Benton County's transient lodging tax reaches short-term rentals countywide, even inside Corvallis, Philomath, and other city limits. Anyone renting a house, condo, or apartment for under a month must register as a lodging tax collector with the Chief Financial Officer within 15 days of starting business and can keep 5% of the tax collected to cover the paperwork.
Benton County Short-Term Rental Tax Registration
Some RestrictionsBenton County Code §§ 39.201, 39.300
Every lodging tax collector liable for collection and remittance of the tax imposed by this chapter may withhold 5% of all collected TLT revenues to cover the lodging tax collector's expense in collection and remittance of the tax. ... Every person engaging in, or about to engage in, business as an lodging tax collector, provider or intermediary of transient lodging located in Benton County sha...
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