10 verified short-term rentals rules for Pasco, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pasco, an incorporated city in Franklin County, does not allow short-term rentals under 30 days. The city's own FAQ states plainly that it does not permit rentals shorter than 30 days, so there is no STR permit to obtain. Only longer-term (30-plus-day) rentals are licensed, under Pasco Municipal Code Chapter 5.60.
Pasco has no STR-specific noise rule because sub-30-day rentals are not allowed. Noise at any Pasco property is governed by the city's noise control code, PMC Chapter 9.130, which prohibits public disturbance noise and sets maximum permissible environmental noise levels. Those general rules - not an STR ordinance - are what apply to any disturbance at a rented dwelling.
Pasco does not allow sub-30-day rentals, so no STR-specific tax or fee applies. Washington lodging taxes (retail sales tax plus local lodging tax) apply to transient lodging under 30 days at licensed hotels, motels and RV parks - administered under PMC Chapter 3.161 and RCW Chapter 67.28. Stays of 30 days or more are not transient lodging.
Pasco has no short-term rental parking standard because rentals under 30 days are not allowed. Off-street parking for dwellings follows the city's zoning parking requirements (PMC Title 25), and accessory dwelling units carry their own parking rules. A proposed STR ordinance discussed in 2025-2026 would have added parking standards, but it was not adopted.
Pasco sets no short-term rental occupancy cap because sub-30-day rentals are not allowed. For housing the city does authorize, occupancy follows the building and housing codes enforced through the Rental License inspection program (PMC Chapter 5.60) and general dwelling standards, not an STR-specific guest limit. A proposed STR ordinance discussed in 2025-2026 contemplated occupancy limits but was not adopted.
Pasco's code sets no STR insurance requirement because sub-30-day rentals are not allowed. Washington's state STR law, RCW Chapter 64.37, requires operators to carry liability insurance of at least $1 million (or use a platform providing equal coverage) - but that applies to lawful STRs, not a use Pasco prohibits. A 2025-2026 city proposal was not adopted.
Pasco does not use an annual night cap; it prohibits sub-30-day rentals outright, which is stricter than a day limit. The operative threshold is the 30-day minimum stay: anything shorter is not allowed. For accessory dwelling units, PMC Chapter 25.161 reinforces this by requiring long-term occupancy of more than 180 days a year and barring transient or vacation rental use.
Pasco has no short-term rental registry because rentals under 30 days are not allowed. The registration that exists is for rentals of 30 days or longer: under PMC Chapter 5.60 every rental dwelling must hold an annual Rental License and pass a certificate of inspection every two years. Any business also needs a license under PMC 5.05.020.
Pasco has no host-presence or on-site-manager rule for short-term rentals because rentals under 30 days are not allowed. A 2025-2026 proposed STR ordinance would have required a local property representative able to respond to issues, but it was not adopted. The existing owner-presence rule is the ADU owner-occupancy requirement in PMC Chapter 25.161.
Pasco does not allow short-term rentals under 30 days at any property, primary residence or not, so there is no primary-residence STR pathway. The closest residency rule is for accessory dwelling units: PMC Chapter 25.161 requires long-term residential use, bars transient/short-term rentals, and requires owner occupancy more than 180 days a year.