ADU Rental Restrictions: Lakewood vs Tacoma
How do adu rental restrictions rules compare between Lakewood, WA and Tacoma, WA?
Lakewood, WA
Pierce County
No data available yet for Lakewood.
Tacoma, WA
Pierce County
Tacoma allows long-term rental of ADUs without restriction. Short-term rentals (stays under 30 days) of ADUs require a Tacoma Business License and, where the property has both a main dwelling and an ADU, only one of the two units may be used as a short-term rental at any given time. RCW 36.70A.681 prohibits Tacoma from outright banning ADU rentals.
View full Tacoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lakewood | Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Rental | - | Allowed; rental license required |
| STR (Under 30 Days) | - | Business license required |
| Both Units as STR | - | Prohibited (only one) |
| 3+ Rooms STR | - | Transient Accommodation License |
| Combined Lodging Tax | - | ~19.5% |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Lakewood FAQ
No FAQs available.
Tacoma FAQ
Can I rent my Tacoma ADU on Airbnb?
Yes, but only if your primary dwelling is not also operating as a short-term rental — TMC 13.06.150 allows only one of the two units on the property to be an STR at any given time. You must hold a Tacoma Business License and collect/remit roughly 19.5% in combined lodging taxes.
Does Tacoma require a minimum lease term for ADU long-term rentals?
No. Stays of 30 days or longer are long-term rentals under TMC 1.95 and RCW 59.18, with no minimum term beyond what the lease specifies. Just-cause termination rules and rental registration apply to all long-term ADU rentals.
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