Short-Term Rentals in Bellevue, WA (2026)
8 verified short-term rentals rules for Bellevue, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Bellevue requires STR operators to file a Registration Notice with Development Services and obtain a business license under LUC 20.20.800. Entire single-family homes cannot be rented short-term.
Bellevue Short-Term Rental Permit and Registration
Heavy RestrictionsWash. Rev. Code ch. 64.37 - Short-Term Rentals
"Operator" or "short-term rental operator" means any person who receives payment for owning or operating a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, as a short-term rental unit. (7) "Owner" means any person who, alone or with others, has title or interest in any building, property, dwelling unit, or portion thereof, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, and including any person who a...
Noise Rules
STR guests in Bellevue must comply with BCC 9.18 noise rules: 55 dBA day limit, with a 10 dBA reduction from 10 PM to 7 AM. Operators must provide a 24-hour contact per LUC 20.20.800.
Bellevue STR Noise Rules and Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Bellevue STR operators collect sales tax (~10.4%), a 5% hotel/motel tax, and a 2.5% transient rental tax under RCW 67.28. B and O tax may also apply. Airbnb may auto-collect some taxes only.
Bellevue STR Taxes and Lodging Fees
Heavy RestrictionsParking Rules
Bellevue STRs must provide on-site parking consistent with the residential zone and describe parking in the Registration Notice under LUC 20.20.800. Guest overflow cannot exceed normal residential use.
Bellevue STR Parking Requirements
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Bellevue caps STR occupancy per IRC habitability rules and LUC 20.20.800. Industry standard is two guests per bedroom plus two additional. Multi-family STR uses cannot exceed 5 units or 20% of a building.
Bellevue STR Guest Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Bellevue requires STR operators to carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance under LUC 20.20.800. Platform-provided host protection like Airbnb AirCover may satisfy the requirement.
Bellevue STR Insurance Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsWash. Rev. Code § 64.37.050 - Short-term rentals - Liability insurance
A short-term rental operator must maintain primary liability insurance to cover the short-term rental dwelling unit in the aggregate of not less than one million dollars or conduct each short-term rental transaction through a platform that provides equal or greater primary liability insurance coverage. Nothing in this section prevents an operator or a platform from seeking contributions from an...
Night Caps
Bellevue does not impose an annual nights-rented cap on short-term rentals. LUC 20.20.800 limits location and type rather than nights. Whole-home SF rentals are prohibited regardless of nights.
Bellevue STR Night Caps and Rental Frequency
Few RestrictionsRegistration Rules
STR operators in Bellevue file a Registration Notice with Development Services under LUC 20.20.800. A business license and WA DOR UBI are required. Registration renews annually.
Bellevue STR Registration Process and Renewal
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellevue city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in King County →