Night Caps: Bellevue vs Kirkland
How do night caps rules compare between Bellevue, WA and Kirkland, WA?
Bellevue has fewer restrictions than Kirkland.
Bellevue, WA
King County
Bellevue does not impose an annual nights-rented cap on short-term rentals. LUC 20.20.800 limits location and type rather than nights. Whole-home SF rentals are prohibited regardless of nights.
View full Bellevue rules →Kirkland, WA
King County
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.
View full Kirkland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bellevue | Kirkland |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Night Cap | None | - |
| SF Whole-Home | Prohibited | - |
| Room Rentals | Unlimited nights | - |
| MF Unit Cap | 5 or 20% of bldg | - |
| Code | LUC 20.20.800 | - |
| Per-year cap | - | None currently |
| STR threshold | - | Fewer than 30 nights |
| Owner-occupancy | - | Required in most zones |
| Primary ordinance | - | O-4755 |
| Revocation trigger | - | Repeat nuisance violations |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bellevue FAQ
How many nights per year can I rent my Bellevue Airbnb?
There is no annual night cap in Bellevue. The city limits the type and location of rentals rather than capping nights, so owner-occupied room rentals and eligible MF units can operate year-round.
Is there a cap on how many STRs are allowed in a condo building?
Yes. In Residential zones, short-term stay uses are limited to 5 units or 20 percent of the building, whichever is fewer, under LUC 20.20.800.
Kirkland FAQ
Is there a cap on how many nights I can rent per year?
No current numerical cap, but the owner-occupancy requirement effectively limits how many nights a host can be away and still comply with the rules.
Can I rent my second home in Kirkland as an STR?
Non-owner-occupied STRs are generally prohibited in single-family residential zones and allowed only in commercial, mixed-use, or certain accessory dwelling situations.
Compare other topics
See how Bellevue and Kirkland compare on other ordinance categories.
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