Short-Term Rentals in Kennewick, WA (2026)
2 verified short-term rentals rules for Kennewick, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Kennewick has not codified a dedicated short-term rental licensing chapter in the Kennewick Municipal Code. STR operators are subject to the statewide Washington Short-Term Rental Operations Act, RCW Chapter 64.37 (enacted 2019), which requires platform-collected operator contact information, posted safety information, and a primary contact reachable during a stay, plus the standard Kennewick business license required of any business operating within city limits. Zoning use must be confirmed under KMC Title 18.
Washington Statewide STR Operations Act (RCW 64.37) Plus Kennewick General Business License
Some RestrictionsRCW 64.37
(1) "Contact" means the operator or the operator's representative who is the point of contact for any short-term rental guest for the duration of the guest's stay in the short-term rental. (2) "Department" means the department of revenue.
Insurance Requirements
RCW 64.37.040, part of the statewide Washington Short-Term Rental Operations Act enacted in 2019, requires every short-term rental operator in the state, including those operating in Kennewick, to maintain primary liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence covering the short-term rental, or to operate exclusively through a booking platform that provides equivalent coverage. The requirement attaches to every transient rental of fewer than 30 nights. Kennewick has not layered any additional local insurance requirement on top of the statewide minimum.
Washington STR Act Mandates $1 Million Primary Liability Insurance (RCW 64.37.040)
Heavy RestrictionsRCW 64.37.050
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.
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kennewick city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Benton County →