Short-Term Rental Regulations in Washington
State Overview
Washington does not preempt local STR regulation. No statewide STR license exists. Cities and counties set their own licensing, zoning, and operational requirements. The state imposes a 6.5% State Retail Sales Tax in addition to any local taxes. Cities in Washington
| City | Permit | Tax Rate | Day Limit | Primary Res. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chelan | ✓ Required | 11.7% | No limit | No | → |
| Leavenworth | ✓ Required | 11.6% | No annual cap · per-stay limit | Varies | → |
| Port Angeles | ✓ Required | 10.9% | No annual cap · per-stay limit | Varies | → |
| Seattle | ✓ Required | 15.7%+ | No annual cap · per-stay limit | No | → |
| Spokane | ✓ Required | 9.1% | No annual cap · per-stay limit | No | → |
Washington's STR Landscape
Washington does not have a uniform STR framework, leaving regulation to individual municipalities. The state imposes a 6.5% State Retail Sales Tax in addition to local taxes.
Regulation varies significantly across cities. Some cities (Leavenworth, Port Angeles) require primary residence, while others (Lake Chelan, Seattle, Spokane) allow non-owner-occupied rentals. Tax rates vary from 9.10% combined sales tax to 15.7% + $2/night + 0.471% B&O.
Popular Short-Term Rental Markets
High-demand markets in other states — compare their permit, tax, and day-limit rules:
- Vacation rental rules in Nashville
- Miami Beach short-term rental permits
- Asheville, NC rental rules
- Short-term rental rules in Myrtle Beach
- Vacation rental rules in Gatlinburg
- Short-term rental rules in Austin
- New Orleans short-term rental permits
- San Diego, CA rental rules
- Savannah STR regulations
- Scottsdale, AZ rental rules
Other States
Alabama 7 cities Alaska 1 city Arizona 9 cities Arkansas 3 cities California 30 cities Colorado 12 cities Connecticut 1 city Delaware 2 cities District of Columbia 1 city Florida 24 cities Georgia 8 cities Hawaii 4 cities Idaho 3 cities Illinois 7 cities Indiana 4 cities Kentucky 3 cities Louisiana 2 cities Maine 4 cities Maryland 4 cities Massachusetts 6 cities Michigan 8 cities Minnesota 3 cities Mississippi 3 cities Missouri 5 cities Montana 3 cities Nevada 1 city New Hampshire 2 cities New Jersey 5 cities New Mexico 3 cities New York 12 cities North Carolina 7 cities Ohio 7 cities Oklahoma 3 cities Oregon 3 cities Pennsylvania 9 cities Rhode Island 2 cities South Carolina 9 cities South Dakota 2 cities Tennessee 7 cities Texas 15 cities Utah 7 cities Vermont 2 cities Virginia 6 cities West Virginia 2 cities Wisconsin 6 cities Wyoming 1 city