Occupancy Limits: Edmonds vs Lynnwood
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Edmonds, WA and Lynnwood, WA?
Edmonds and Lynnwood have similar restriction levels.
Edmonds, WA
Snohomish County
Edmonds does not set a numeric guest cap unique to short-term rentals. Stays must be fewer than 30 consecutive nights, hosts must post a maximum occupancy figure for guests under RCW 64.37, and the analogous bed-and-breakfast rule (ECDC 20.23) bars stays longer than 30 consecutive days and prohibits kitchens in individual guest rooms.
View full Edmonds rules →Lynnwood, WA
Snohomish County
Lynnwood has no stand-alone short-term rental ordinance and no published guests-per-bedroom cap. State law (RCW 64.37) defines a short-term rental as fewer than 30 consecutive nights and sets baseline operator duties. LMC 21.02.100 defines a boarding/lodging/rooming house as serving nontransient persons, so transient STR use is not the same use category. LMC 21.42.110 governs ADUs and home occupations in single-family zones but does not address STRs. Operators must hold a Lynnwood Title 5 general business license and register with the WA Department of Revenue. Confirm zoning eligibility with Development & Business Services at 425-670-5400.
View full Lynnwood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Edmonds | Lynnwood |
|---|---|---|
| Per-Bedroom Cap | Not codified by Edmonds | - |
| Stay Length | Fewer than 30 consecutive nights | - |
| ECDC 20.23 Limit | 30 consecutive days max | - |
| Kitchens in Guest Rooms | Prohibited (ECDC 20.23) | - |
| Posted Max Occupancy | Required (RCW 64.37.020) | - |
| 24/7 Responder | 2-hour response (RCW 64.37) | - |
| State Building Code | WAC 51-50 / 51-51 egress and room size | - |
| Confirm With | Edmonds Planning 425-771-0220 | - |
| STR definition | - | Fewer than 30 consecutive nights (RCW 64.37.010) |
| Local STR ordinance | - | None adopted; confirm zoning with Development & Business Services at 425-670-5400 |
| Boarding/lodging house definition | - | LMC 21.02.100 - serves nontransient persons (does not cover STRs) |
| Business license | - | Lynnwood general business license required under LMC 5.06 |
| State liability insurance | - | $1M minimum or platform-provided coverage (RCW 64.37.020) |
| DOR registration | - | Required statewide under RCW 64.37 |
| Lodging tax | - | 2% state-shared under RCW 67.28.180; no extra 2% local in Snohomish County |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Edmonds FAQ
How many guests can stay at an Edmonds short-term rental?
Edmonds has not adopted a numeric per-bedroom occupancy cap unique to STRs. The maximum occupancy posted in the unit must comply with the Washington State Building Code's bedroom egress and habitable-room sizes (WAC 51-50/51-51) and any limit you state in your platform listing. Confirm any unit-specific cap with Edmonds Planning at 425-771-0220.
How long can a guest stay at an Edmonds STR?
An STR stay must be fewer than 30 consecutive nights. ECDC 20.23 caps transient bed-and-breakfast stays at 30 consecutive calendar days, and stays of 30 days or more convert to a tenancy under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18).
Does Washington require an occupancy notice in the rental?
Yes. RCW 64.37.020 requires every STR operator to provide guests with written information that includes the maximum occupancy of the unit, emergency services contacts, and a 24/7 contact who can respond within two hours.
Lynnwood FAQ
How many guests can stay at a Lynnwood STR?
Lynnwood does not set a fixed guests-per-bedroom number. Practical occupancy is bounded by the building, residential, and fire codes (occupant load by sleeping room area and egress) and by any conditions placed on the operator's Title 5 general business license.
Are short-term rentals allowed in Lynnwood single-family zones?
Lynnwood has not enacted a dedicated STR ordinance, and STRs do not fit the LMC 21.02.100 boarding/lodging house definition (which requires nontransient persons). Confirm zoning eligibility for your address with Development & Business Services at 425-670-5400 before listing.
What state-law duties apply to a Lynnwood STR operator?
Under RCW 64.37, operators must register with the WA Department of Revenue, carry $1M primary liability insurance (or use a platform that provides equivalent coverage), post a 24-hour contact and safety information in the unit, and comply with carbon monoxide and smoke alarm requirements.
Does Lynnwood charge a local STR lodging tax?
Snohomish County cities, including Lynnwood, are not authorized to add a local 2 percent lodging tax on top of the state-shared 2 percent under RCW 67.28.180. State sales tax also applies. Confirm the current combined rate with the WA Department of Revenue.
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