Short-Term Rentals in Renton, WA (2026)
6 verified short-term rentals rules for Renton, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Renton doesn't use a separate short-term rental permit; instead, RMC 4-4-055(B)(1) requires every owner operating a short-term rental to hold a City of Renton Business License before renting out stays under 30 continuous days.
Renton Short-Term Rental Business License Rule
Some RestrictionsRMC 4-4-055(B)(1), (C)
1. Business License: Owners of property used as a short-term rental must obtain a City of Renton Business License. ... C. VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION AND PENALTIES: Any person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to RMC 1-3-1.
Taxes & Fees
Renton levies a 1% special excise tax on short-term lodging charges under RMC 5-18-2, on top of state sales tax, collected by the Washington Department of Revenue as the city's agent.
Renton STR Lodging Tax Rules
Some RestrictionsRenton Municipal Code 5-18-2
There is hereby levied a special excise tax of one percent (1%) on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging that is subject to tax under Chapter 82.08 RCW. The tax imposed applies to the sale of or charge for the furnishing of lodging by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, or trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished f...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Renton requires off-street parking for a short-term rental under the standard Title IV parking standards, plus one additional off-street space whenever the unit is owner-occupied during the rental, under RMC 4-4-055(B)(4).
Renton Short-Term Rental Parking Requirements
Some RestrictionsRMC 4-4-055(B)(4)
4. Off-Street Parking: Off-street parking shall be provided pursuant to Title IV RMC. One additional space is required if the unit is owner-occupied.
Occupancy Limits
Renton caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom, and that same two-per-bedroom count includes the owner or related family when the unit is owner-occupied during a rental. A dwelling counts as a short-term rental once it's advertised for stays under 30 continuous days.
Renton Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsRMC 4-4-055(A), (B)(3)
A. APPLICABILITY: The standards of this Section apply to the short-term rental of a dwelling unit or portion thereof. For the purposes of this Section, it shall be determined that a dwelling unit is being used as a short-term rental if the owner or person in charge of such real property advertises their property for overnight accommodations for any period less than thirty (30) continuous days. ...
Insurance Requirements
Renton RMC 4-4-055 sets no specific STR insurance minimum, but operators should carry commercial liability since standard homeowners policies often exclude rental activity. Airbnb AirCover is secondary coverage.
Renton STR Insurance Requirements
Some RestrictionsRCW 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...
Host Presence Rule
Renton requires a short-term rental to be owner-occupied whenever multiple parties are renting at the same time. A single party renting the whole unit doesn't trigger this owner-occupancy requirement under RMC 4-4-055(B)(2).
Renton Short-Term Rental Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsRMC 4-4-055(B)(2)
2. Owner-Occupancy: The dwelling must be owner-occupied if multiple parties rent at the same time.
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Renton city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in King County →