How Tigard Handles Short-Term Rentals: A Practical Guide

Tigard maintains 50 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with short-term rentals. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Tigard falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Insurance Requirements

Tigard's municipal code does not impose a numeric liability insurance minimum on short-term rental operators. Because the city has no STR-specific ordinance, insurance is recommended rather than mandated. Hosts must still hold a general business license under TMC Chapter 5.04 and remit Tigard's 2.5% Local Transient Lodging Tax under TMC Chapter 3.85.

Key details: Code Liability Minimum: Not specified by Tigard. Recommendation: $1M liability via STR endorsement. Business License: Required (TMC Ch. 5.04). Lodging Tax: 2.5% Tigard + 9% county + 1.5% state. State TLT Authority: ORS 320.300.

Because no insurance minimum is codified, there is no Tigard-specific citation for inadequate coverage. Failure to hold a required business license under TMC Chapter 5.04 or to remit lodging taxes under TMC Chapter 3.85 is enforced by the Finance Department through citations, back taxes, interest, and penalties.

The rules around insurance requirements in Tigard lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Occupancy Limits

Tigard has not codified a short-term rental-specific occupancy cap (no '10 guests', no '2 per bedroom plus 2'). Occupancy is governed by the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (the Oregon-adopted version of the International Residential Code) and the Oregon Property Maintenance provisions, which use the standard 70 sq. ft. minimum for the first occupant of a sleeping room plus 50 sq. ft. for each additional occupant. The Tigard Community Development Code (Title 18) also limits residential dwellings to Household Living use in most residential base zones, which may constrain the practical character of occupancy.

Key details: Codified STR Headcount Cap: None. Governing Standard: Oregon Residential Specialty Code (minimum-area-per-occupant). Sleeping Room Minimum: 70 sq. ft. for first occupant; +50 sq. ft. each additional. Dwelling Unit Minimum: 150 sq. ft. for first occupant; +100 sq. ft. each additional. Zoning Use Classification: Tigard Community Development Code Title 18 (Household Living vs. Group Living).

Overcrowding beyond Oregon Residential Specialty Code area limits can be cited under Oregon property maintenance law and enforced locally through Tigard's adopted building and property maintenance enforcement; the City of Tigard also pursues civil-infraction enforcement under TMC Chapter 1.16 for code violations. Where transient occupancy of a dwelling exceeds the Household Living definition in Title 18 (for example, by operating as Group Living or a separate commercial lodging use not permitted in the base zone), Tigard Code Compliance can pursue a Title 18 use-classification violation. Because no STR-specific occupancy cap is codified, no STR-specific overcrowding penalty exists beyond these general remedies.

Tigard is more permissive than most cities when it comes to occupancy limits. That said, there are still limits.

Taxes & Fees

Short-term rentals in Tigard collect three layers of transient lodging tax: 1.5% Oregon state TLT under ORS Chapter 320, administered by the Oregon Department of Revenue; 9% Washington County TLT (effective July 1, 2006), administered by Washington County Finance, of which 5% is returned to operators as a service fee; and 2.5% City of Tigard local TLT codified in TMC Title 3 (effective September 8, 2017). The only Tigard-specific recurring city fee tied to operating an STR is the TMC Chapter 5.04 business license. There is no separate Tigard STR application fee codified.

Key details: Oregon State TLT: 1.5% (ORS Chapter 320; Oregon Department of Revenue). Washington County TLT: 9% (effective July 1, 2006; 5% returned to operators as service fee). Tigard Local TLT: 2.5% (TMC Title 3; effective September 8, 2017). Combined Tax Burden: 13% (1.5% state + 9% county + 2.5% city). Exempt Stays: 30 or more consecutive nights (ORS 320.300).

Failure to register for or remit the 1.5% Oregon state TLT is enforced by the Oregon Department of Revenue under ORS Chapter 320, with interest, penalties, and lien remedies. Failure to remit the 9% Washington County TLT is enforced by Washington County Finance under the county's TLT chapter, with assessment, late fees, and interest; the county may also withdraw the 5% service-fee allowance for non-compliant operators. Failure to remit the 2.5% Tigard local TLT under TMC Title 3 is enforced by the City of Tigard Finance Department with penalties and interest as set by the chapter. Operating without a current TMC Chapter 5.04 business license is independently enforceable by Tigard Code Compliance as a civil infraction. Platform-collected tax does not cover off-platform bookings, so operators with direct-booked guests carry independent registration and remittance obligations on all three layers.

Permit Requirements

As of May 2026, the Tigard Municipal Code (TMC) does not contain a dedicated short-term rental (STR) licensing or permit chapter. Operators are subject only to the general business license requirement under TMC Title 5, Chapter 5.04, and to Washington County Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) registration with Washington County Finance, plus the Tigard local TLT under TMC Title 3 (effective September 8, 2017). STRs must also comply with the underlying zoning use rules in the Tigard Community Development Code (Title 18) for the property's base zone; there is no STR-specific land use review, density cap, or owner-occupancy requirement codified by Tigard.

Key details: Dedicated STR Chapter: None as of May 2026. Business License: Required under TMC Chapter 5.04 for any business in city limits. Washington County TLT: 9% county TLT (effective July 1, 2006). Tigard Local TLT: Codified TMC Title 3 (effective September 8, 2017). Owner-Occupancy: Not codified by Tigard.

Operating any business within Tigard without a current TMC Chapter 5.04 business license is a civil violation enforceable by the City of Tigard Code Compliance team, with administrative penalties and back-payment of license fees. Failure to register for and remit the Washington County Transient Lodging Tax is enforced by Washington County Finance under the county's TLT chapter, with interest and penalties on unpaid tax. Failure to remit the Tigard local TLT is enforced by the city under TMC Title 3. Operating a use not permitted in the underlying base zone is a Title 18 violation enforceable by Tigard Code Compliance, which classifies most code violations as civil infractions handled administratively per TMC 1.16.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Tigard gives residents more flexibility on permit requirements.

Parking Rules

STR guests must comply with Tigard's general parking rules. No vehicle may be stored on a public street for more than 72 continuous hours. RVs, motor homes, and trailers are restricted on public streets between midnight and 6:00 AM.

Key details: Street Parking Limit: 72 hours max. RV Overnight: Restricted 12 AM – 6 AM. Hydrant Clearance: 10 ft minimum. Code Section: TMC Chapter 10.28.

Parking plan non-compliance may affect STR permit renewal. Street parking violations per city code.

Noise Rules

Tigard has no STR-specific quiet hours or party-house provisions. STR guests are subject to the general Noise Nuisances article in Tigard Municipal Code Title 6 (Nuisance Violations), Chapter 6.02 (Nuisances Affecting Public Health, Safety and Peace), Article V. The article establishes stricter noise limits between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., regulates construction-noise hours, and prohibits specific noise sources (amplified outdoor sound, signal devices, defective vehicles, exhaust brakes). Violations are abated through TMC 1.16 nuisance enforcement, not through any STR-specific license suspension mechanism.

Key details: STR-Specific Quiet Hours: None codified. Governing Chapter: TMC Title 6, Chapter 6.02, Article V (Noise Nuisances). Stricter Nighttime Window: 9:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.. Construction Noise Hours: Weekdays 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Weekends 8 a.m.-9 p.m.. Classification: Class 1 civil infraction (TMC Chapter 1.16).

Violations of TMC 6.02, Article V are Class 1 civil infractions adjudicated under TMC Chapter 1.16, with administrative civil penalties per occurrence. The Tigard Police Department responds to active disturbances and may cite occupants on scene; Tigard Code Compliance handles pattern complaints and habitability or property-maintenance overlays. Two witnesses from different households may be required to corroborate certain specific noise-source violations. Where the underlying business license under TMC 5.04 is also out of compliance, the city may pursue parallel license enforcement; however, there is no codified STR-specific license-revocation tied to a noise threshold because no STR license exists.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Tigard gives residents more room on short-term rentals. 3 of the 6 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Tigard can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.