City of Hood River restricts lodging to deter tourism
In further efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, the City of Hood River has ordered all tourism lodging stays to cease immediately. The intention of the City’s Executive Order is to reduce visitation to the area and protect health and safety.
Tourism lodging restrictions affect motels, hotels, short-term vacation rentals, hosted home shares, bed and breakfasts, RV parks and campgrounds in the City of Hood River. Despite statewide restrictions on public gatherings, many visitors have flocked to the Columbia Gorge, gathered in large groups and failed to observe state-mandated six-foot social distancing requirements, thus creating a threat and danger to everyone.
To protect health and safety, Hood River’s Mayor McBride is following actions made by many Oregon tourism destinations, imposing several new restrictions to prevent recreational visitors from coming to Hood River in violation of Governor Brown’s Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order.
All transient lodging facilities in Hood River shall be restricted, with some exceptions. Only the following uses of transient lodging facilities shall be allowed:
- Registered guests staying for a minimum of 30 consecutive days.
- Essential personnel as defined by federal or state law, where lodging is necessary to provide essential work in the local area.
- Individuals deemed vulnerable by the Hood River County Health Department, which may include but not be limited to, homeless individuals or individuals placed in quarantine due to the public health emergency.
- Other individuals authorized by the Hood River County Health Department.
The City of Hood River’s Executive Order is effective at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2020, and is in effect through the duration of the City of Hood River’s local state of emergency.
Short-term rentals are defined as rentals of a duration less than 30 days. For more details, please refer to the full City of Hood River Executive Order 20-07. A violation of this Declaration shall be a Class C misdemeanor pursuant to ORS 401.990 and a civil infraction enforceable under HRMC Chapter 1.10.
The City will continue to update information related to the COVID-19 public health crisis on this website.