Portland Tribune- Why so few Airbnb permits? Could tax avoidance be a reason?

January 19, 2017
When Michael Bednarek read a recent Portland Tribune article noting only one in five Airbnb and other short-term rental hosts bothered to get city permits — two years after a city ordinance required them to do so — he got to wondering why. After all, getting a city permit to rent out spare bedrooms for the night is relatively simple, requiring a $178 fee and a bare-bones home inspection. The fee can be recouped via a couple days’ rent from tourists, and inspectors only check for basic safety requirements: smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and ways to exit bedrooms during a fire…
Source: http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/340610-216768-why-so-few-airbnb-permits-could-tax-avoidance-be-a-reason