Short-Term Rentals in Everett, WA

Everett maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Everett falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Everett Municipal Code 19.13.250 requires a city business license to operate a short-term rental, caps any one operator at two rental sites citywide, limits occupancy to eight guests per site, and bans signs identifying the use, as amended by Ordinance 4156-26 in 2026.

Key details: License required: City business license, before operating. Sites per operator: Maximum of 2, citywide. Guest cap: 8 guests per site, ADU included. Signage: No identifying signs permitted. Last amended: Ord. 4156-26 § 19 (2026).

Operating a short-term rental without the required city business license, exceeding the two-site cap per operator, exceeding the eight-guest occupancy limit, or posting an identifying sign are violations of EMC 19.13.250 enforced under Chapter 1.20 EMC. A code enforcement officer can issue a corrective notice and order; noncompliance past the deadline accrues a $250-per-violation, per-day civil penalty, rising to $500 per day for a repeat violator, and the city can also deny or condition the business license itself pending compliance.

Compared to other cities, Everett takes a harder line on short-term rental permits. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Everett's Unified Development Code sets a specific off-street parking count for every short-term rental. Renting a whole dwelling unit needs three off-street spaces if the site has on-street parking out front, or four if it doesn't; renting individual rooms in an occupied home needs one off-street space per guest room, under Table 34-1 of EMC 19.34.020.

Key details: Whole-unit rental, on-street parking present: 3 off-street spaces required. Whole-unit rental, no on-street parking: 4 off-street spaces required. By-room rental: 1 off-street space per guest room. Governing table: EMC 19.34.020, Table 34-1. Transit-area reduction: 25% cut near frequent transit, EMC 19.34.060(B).

The parking count is enforced as a condition of the site's land use approval, not as a standalone fine. EMC 19.34.040(C) requires off-street parking to be retained in the amount required at the time of development approval, so a short-term rental site that later loses spaces below its Table 34-1 minimum, without an approved EMC 19.34.060 reduction, is out of compliance with that retention requirement and can be required to restore the spaces before the rental use continues.

Occupancy Limits

Everett limits every short-term rental to eight overnight guests per site, requires a city business license to operate, and caps each operator at two rental sites citywide under Everett Municipal Code Section 19.13.250.

Key details: Guest cap: 8 guests per site maximum. License: City business license required. Operator limit: Max 2 STR sites per operator. Signage: No STR identification signs. Amended: Ord. 4156-26 § 19, 2026.

Violations are enforced under Everett Municipal Code Chapter 1.20's uniform enforcement procedures, which set a default civil penalty of $250 per violation per day, doubling to $500 per day for repeat violators.

The Bottom Line

Everett's short-term rentals rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Everett is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Everett's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.