Short-Term Rentals in Seattle, WA (2026)
6 verified short-term rentals rules for Seattle, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Seattle requires STR operators to hold a City Business License Tax Certificate and a separate STR Operator's Regulatory License ($75/unit/year) under SMC Chapter 6.600. Operators are limited to 2 units; one must be their primary residence if operating 2. Non-primary-residence STRs must also register with RRIO.
Seattle Short-Term Rental Operator License
Heavy RestrictionsNoise Rules
Seattle short-term rental guests must comply with Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 25.08 (Noise Control), which sets a 55 dBA daytime limit and a 45 dBA nighttime limit at the property line of a residential receiving zone. Quiet hours run 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends and legal holidays. Operators are responsible under SMC 6.600 for guest conduct, and repeated verified noise complaints can support enforcement against the STR operator's regulatory license. Active disturbances are reported to the Seattle Police non-emergency line at 206-625-5011.
Seattle STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Seattle STR hosts must collect Washington State lodging taxes under RCW 67.28. Seattle imposes a Business License Tax (based on gross receipts). The $75/year per-unit STR regulatory license fee applies separately.
Seattle STR Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsParking Rules
Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 6.600 does not impose a dedicated off-street parking requirement on short-term rentals, and SMC 23.42.060 (Land Use Code) does not require additional parking specifically for STR use beyond what applies to the underlying dwelling. STR guests parking on city streets must follow standard SDOT rules: posted time limits, street-cleaning postings, the 72-hour vehicle storage limit, and Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) rules. In RPZ areas, only one guest hangtag is issued per household; short-term day permits are available in most zones (up to 5 per day, 50 per year per address).
Seattle STR Parking Rules
Few RestrictionsSDOT — Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Permits Program
Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Permits — RPZ Program: The Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Program helps to reduce all-day commuter parking near large commuting centers (like hospitals, universities, business districts, and light rail stations) in residential and mixed-use areas. RPZs use parking restrictions to limit the time that vehicles without RPZ permits can park. Residents in an RPZ can buy ...
Occupancy Limits
Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 6.600 limits a short-term rental operator to a maximum of two dwelling units citywide: the operator's primary residence (where they live more than six months a year) and one secondary unit within Seattle, with grandfathered exceptions for some Downtown Urban Core legacy listings. SMC 6.600 does not set a specific guest-per-bedroom cap, but the underlying dwelling is still subject to occupancy and life-safety standards in the Building, Fire, and Housing codes. STRs are prohibited in RVs, tents, garages, boats, floating residences, waterfront residences, live-work units, and commercial caretaker quarters.
Seattle STR Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsSeattle Short-Term Rentals (SMC 6.600) — Helpful information about Seattle's STR Ordinance
The City's short-term rental ordinance limits the number of units that any one short-term rental operator can operate. (An operator can be a single person, a marital unit, a group of people, or a corporate entity such as an LLC.) The licensing process requires you to include the addresses of specific units to your operator license. Most short-term rental operators may operate two units: the ope...
Host Presence Rule
Seattle SMC 6.600 STR Ordinance (2017) requires every host to hold a STR Operator License plus a regulatory license. Operators are limited to their primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit citywide.
Non-Primary STRs Capped at Two Units; License Plus Tax Required
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Seattle city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in King County →