Airbnb Laws and Regulations in Washington State

Bellingham, Washington

Developing Airbnb Laws and Regulations

The city of Bellingham, Washington hopes to uphold two primary goals by enforcing its recent Airbnb Laws: to maintain stable housing while protecting the safety and rights of owners, neighbors, and guests. 

This ordinance requires that all short-term rental operators obtain a vacation rental permit and pay the corresponding fee. Along with the permit, each operator is limited to one short-term rental property in all residential areas and the dwelling must be the owner’s primary residence for 270 days per year, with a 95-day limit that the property can be rented out. Bellingham Municipal Code Section 20.10.037 offers further information on exceptions to these limits. 

For the homes in compliance, the city implemented a list of additional guidelines for the homeowner, such as adequate street parking, accessible emergency contact for the guests, and a basic safety inspection of the property. These guidelines, along with the required permit- attempt to strike a balance between welcoming visitors while protecting the economy and community. 

Chelan County, Washinton

New Airbnb Laws Require Liability Insurance for all Short-term Rentals

The Board of Commissioners passed the final Airbnb laws for Chelan County, which took effect on September 27th, 2021.  The new code stems from months of tension between long-term residents and rental owners near some of Washington’s popular tourist destinations.  Within the new code, there are regulations regarding zones allowed, the number of units allowed, operational standards, existing units, permit process, and a primary liability insurance requirement of no less than $1,000,000.  

Many hosts believe that their umbrella insurance policy would be applicable in this situation, but this is simply not true for two reasons.  First, your underlying policy must be fully exhausted for an umbrella to kick in, and many short-term rental hosts simply do not have the correct underlying insurance, so the claim never gets to the umbrella. Many short-term rental homes are insured on policies that have business activity exclusions which means it more than likely wouldn’t respond to a claim, to begin with.  Second, an umbrella is not the primary liability coverage limit so it would not suffice the new Chelan County insurance requirement. You will need to show proof of $1,000,000 in liability coverage limits before any umbrella.  

Seattle, Washington

Airbnb Laws Passed by City Council 

The Seattle City Council passed a new set of Airbnb Laws that would effectively restrict property owners on the number of units they can rent out. According to the ordinance, property owners are permitted to rent out up to a maximum of 2 dwelling units. However hosts already operating in the downtown urban center south of Olive way and North of Cherry St will not be limited in the number of dwelling units they may operate. 

These new changes were introduced to prevent property owners from turning their Airbnb rentals into a “hotel business.” In addition, hosts are required to obtain licenses before they’re eligible to list their homes for rent. The new regulations also apply to other short-term rental platforms including Airbnb, Flipkey, Vrbo, and more. 

These new laws come shortly after the council passed short-term rental tax laws, which are expected to generate 7 million in revenue for the city. 

Vancouver, Washington

New Short-Term Rental Ordinance Adopted

As of December 2023, the city of Vancouver has implemented new short-term rental (STR) laws and regulations. It is implemented as a 24-month pilot period to determine its success. Changes have been made including rezoning, the requirement of a business license and STR permit. The city itself has created regulations to follow over the year which include a cap of STR units, ongoing monitoring of STR compliance, monitoring the impacts of the long-term rental market, monitoring code compliance and outreach to determine program effectiveness. To stay current with the regulations, visit the city of Vancouver’s website. 

The current regulations are in place:  

• Business License: Must hold a Washington State Business License and a City of Vancouver Business License. 
• STR Permit: Complete an STR permit application.  
• Zoning: Hosts need to make sure their property is located within the City Limits. 
• Insurance: Must have at least $1 million in liability insurance. 
• Notify Neighbors: Must mail notification letters to the property owners abutting or adjacent to the property with notice of the STR, description of the operation, number of bedrooms that may be rented out and a phone number to contact in case of emergency.

Walla Walla, Washington

Airbnb Laws Hosts Need to Know

Airbnb Laws in Walla Walla, Washington have changed to better accommodate the skyrocketing tourism industry. 

Known for its fertile agricultural areas and over 100  local wineries, it’s easy to see how Walla Walla is now a popular short-term vacation rental destination. With the growth in this market over the years, Walla Walla eventually decided on short-term rental laws, following suit in many cities and communities across the U.S.  

The City has general requirements, application requirements, and development standards for short-term rentals including the following:  

• A permit from the city of Walla Walla 
• A local contact available to respond to issues at the short-term rental  
• Compliance with all fire and safety codes, including a working fire extinguisher 
• Adequate parking based on the capacity of the rental 
• Owners must have property insurance and liability coverage 

Hosts should also expect an application of $150, with an annual renewal fee of the same amount.