Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Short-Term Rentals in Kirkland, WA (2026)

8 verified short-term rentals rules for Kirkland, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Permit Requirements

Kirkland requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a City business license, register with the State of Washington, and comply with KZC short-term rental zoning standards under Ordinance O-4755.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements

Some Restrictions

Noise Rules

STR guests in Kirkland must comply with KMC Chapter 11.88 noise limits and the operator is responsible for providing rules and responding to noise complaints within a reasonable timeframe.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Noise Rules

Some Restrictions

Taxes & Fees

Short-term rental operators in Kirkland must collect Washington sales tax, state lodging tax, King County tax, and pay Kirkland business license fees based on gross receipts.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Taxes and Fees

Some Restrictions

Parking Rules

Kirkland STR operators must provide the off-street parking required for the underlying dwelling and instruct guests on KMC 11.72 on-street parking rules including the 72-hour limit.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Some Restrictions

Occupancy Limits

Occupancy in Kirkland short-term rentals is capped by bedroom count and International Residential Code floor-area standards, typically two guests per bedroom plus two additional for the dwelling.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Insurance Requirements

RCW 64.37.050 requires all Washington short-term rental operators to carry at least 1 million dollars in liability insurance or use a platform that provides equivalent coverage for guests.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Insurance Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

RCW 64.37.050 Liability insurance

RCW 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. Nothing in this section prevents an operator or a platform...

Night Caps

Kirkland does not impose a fixed per-year night cap, but non-owner-occupied STRs face zoning restrictions and all rentals shorter than 30 nights must comply with Ordinance O-4755.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Night Caps

Some Restrictions

Registration Rules

Operators must register their Kirkland STR through the FileLocal business license portal, state DOR, and include the City license number in every online listing under Ordinance O-4755.

Kirkland Short-Term Rental Registration Rules

Heavy Restrictions

RCW 64.37.050

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...

Looking for King County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kirkland city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in King County