Washington Short-Term Rental Laws and Permits by City: Seattle $75, Spokane $200, Bellingham and Chelan County Caps

Washington has no statewide short-term rental license. The state sets a few baseline rules for rentals of less than 30 days, then leaves permits, unit caps and owner-occupancy requirements to each city and county. If you plan to list a home or condo on Airbnb, VRBO or a similar platform, the rules that matter most are the ones where your property sits. This guide covers the state baseline, the statewide business registrations most hosts need, and the local rules in Seattle, Spokane, Bellingham, Kirkland, Chelan County and San Juan County.

Disclaimer: This is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Local rules change, and some are still being phased in. Confirm current requirements with your city or county, the Washington Department of Revenue and a qualified attorney or CPA before you list a property.

What State Law Requires

The state's short-term rental rules are in chapter 64.37 RCW. The statute defines a short-term rental as a dwelling unit rented for less than 30 days. If you operate one, state law requires you to:

• Post safety information for guests.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms.
• Carry at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage, or book through a platform that provides that coverage.

Read the chapter itself for the exact language on each item. The statute does not create a statewide license, and it does not preempt local rules. That means cities can require their own permits, set their own caps and restrict who may operate.

Washington has 39 counties and 281 incorporated cities and towns. A property inside city limits follows city rules. A property in unincorporated county land follows county rules. Check which one applies before you spend money on anything else.

Statewide Business Registrations Most Hosts Need

A short-term rental permit is rarely the only filing. Washington's general business license runs through the Business Licensing Service (BLS) inside the Department of Revenue. One Business License Application issues your 9-digit Unified Business Identifier (UBI) and handles any state and city endorsements your business needs.

You need the BLS application if any of these apply:

• The business needs city, county or state endorsements.
• You operate under a name other than your full legal name.
• You plan to hire employees within 90 days.
• You sell anything subject to sales tax.
• Your gross income is $12,000 per year or more.
• You owe any tax or fee to the Department of Revenue.

The processing fee is $50 to open a business, plus separate endorsement fees. Online applications take about 10 business days, and 2 to 3 weeks longer if city or state endorsements need approval. Mailed applications can take up to six weeks. Apply at the Department of Revenue's business license application page.

If you form an LLC or corporation, file with the Secretary of State first through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS), then submit the BLS application. The Washington term for your agent is registered agent. Every business must designate one with a physical Washington street address. PO Boxes and private mailbox addresses are not accepted. Sole proprietors and general partnerships operating under the owner's own name do not file with the Secretary of State.

If you list under a brand name instead of your legal name, register a trade name. Trade names are registered through the BLS, not the Secretary of State or the county. Each trade name costs $5, plus the BLS processing fee: $50 to open a business, or $10 when the filing adds a trade name to an existing business. Details are at the Department of Revenue's trade name page.

On taxes, Washington has no corporate or personal income tax on wages. It uses the state business and occupation (B&O) tax instead, a gross receipts tax that most businesses pay. About 54 cities add their own B&O tax, and the state sales tax rate is 6.5%. Ask a CPA whether your rental income triggers the state B&O tax, state sales tax, city B&O tax or any local lodging taxes.

City and County Rules at a Glance

The table below summarizes the rules we verified. Fees and limits change, so confirm each one with the agency named before you apply.

Jurisdiction	What You Need	Fee	Key Limit
Seattle	Business license tax certificate plus a short-term rental operator license	$75 per unit per year	Two-unit cap; license number on every listing
Spokane	Short-term rental permit under chapter 17C.316 SMC	Residential zones: $200 to apply, $100 to renew. Other zones: $300 to apply, $150 to renew	Permit tier depends on zone
Bellingham	Zoning rules under BMC 20.10.037	Confirm with the city	One rental per operator in residential zones; primary residence at least 270 days a year; whole-unit rentals at most 95 days
Kirkland	Rules under KMC 7.02	Confirm with the city	Owner occupancy at least 245 days a year
Chelan County	Permit under county code 11.88.290	Confirm with the county	Caps new permits by area; annual application window
San Juan County	Provisional use permit for existing Eastsound and Lopez Village rentals	Confirm with the county	Deadline was June 25, 2026, which has passed

Seattle

Seattle requires two things. First, you need a business license tax certificate. Second, you need a short-term rental operator license, which costs $75 per unit per year. The city caps the number of units one operator can list at two, and every listing must show your license number. A listing without a license number is the most common reason a host gets flagged, so add the number to your listing before it goes live.

Spokane

Spokane permits are governed by chapter 17C.316 SMC, and the fee depends on zoning. In residential zones, the permit costs $200 to apply and $100 to renew. In other zones, the permit costs $300 to apply and $150 to renew. If your property is near a zone boundary, ask the city planning staff which tier applies before you pay.

Bellingham

In residential zones, Bellingham allows one short-term rental per operator. The operator must use the home as a primary residence at least 270 days a year. Whole-unit rentals are capped at 95 days. The rules are in BMC 20.10.037. Because the cap works differently from a flat permit fee, read the code language closely and confirm how the city counts days before you plan your calendar.

Kirkland

Kirkland requires owner occupancy of at least 245 days a year under KMC 7.02. That means a host who does not live in the unit most of the year may not qualify. If you own a second property as an investment, do not assume it can be listed on a short-term basis.

Chelan County

Chelan County caps the number of new short-term rental permits by area, and it accepts applications during an annual window. The rules are in county code 11.88.290. Because the cap is area-based, a permit may not be available in your area even if your property otherwise qualifies. Contact county planning staff early to find out whether your area has capacity and when the window opens.

San Juan County

San Juan County required existing short-term rentals in Eastsound and Lopez Village to apply for a provisional use permit by June 25, 2026. That date has already passed as of this writing. If you operate in either area and did not apply, contact the county's Community Development office right away to learn what options remain.

Lodging Facilities With Three or More Units

A facility with three or more lodging units may also need a transient accommodation license from the Department of Health (DOH). This can apply even when each unit is a separate rental. Ask DOH whether your property meets the threshold before you list the second or third unit.

Steps to Take Before You List

1. Confirm whether the property is inside city limits or in unincorporated county land.
2. Check the zoning and the local short-term rental rules with that jurisdiction.
3. Check any owner-occupancy requirement and any unit-count cap that applies.
4. If you will operate through an LLC or corporation, file with the Secretary of State through CCFS.
5. Apply for your UBI and any endorsements through the Business Licensing Service.
6. Register a trade name if you will list under one.
7. Confirm your liability coverage of at least $1,000,000, or confirm that your platform provides it.
8. Install carbon monoxide alarms and post safety information inside the unit.
9. Add your permit or license number to every listing where the local rules require it.
10. If you have three or more lodging units, check whether you need a DOH transient accommodation license.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming there is no state license means there are no rules. The state sets baseline requirements, and cities and counties add their own.
• Listing without a license number. In Seattle, the number must appear on the listing.
• Ignoring owner-occupancy rules. Kirkland and Bellingham both tie short-term rentals to residence.
• Missing a deadline. San Juan County's June 25, 2026 date has passed. Put every local deadline on a calendar.
• Relying on platform insurance without reading it. Confirm what the platform covers and whether it meets the $1,000,000 threshold.

Where to Confirm Current Requirements

Start with the agency that controls your property's jurisdiction. For business registration, use the Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division and the Washington State Department of Revenue. If you want free help with the paperwork, the Washington Small Business Development Center offers advising. Federal small business resources for the Seattle district are at sba.gov.

Short-term rental rules in Washington are local, and they change. Use this guide to know what to ask, then get written answers from your city or county before you invest in a property. For complex situations, such as multiple units, entity structuring or a property with mixed zoning, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.

Disclaimer: This content is informational only and is not legal or tax advice.