Occupancy Limits: Lynnwood vs Marysville
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Lynnwood, WA and Marysville, WA?
Lynnwood and Marysville have similar restriction levels.
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 →Marysville, WA
Snohomish County
Marysville does not publish a numeric guests-per-bedroom cap for short-term rentals. Maximum occupancy defaults to the International Residential Code adopted under MMC Title 16 (Building Code), which requires at least 70 sq ft for the first sleeping occupant and 50 sq ft per additional occupant per bedroom. Bed and breakfast guesthouses under MMC 22C.210 are limited to a small number of guest rooms in residential zones.
View full Marysville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lynnwood | Marysville |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Building Code | - | MMC Title 16 / IRC |
| Min Sleeping Room | - | 70 sq ft (IRC R304) |
| Per Add'l Occupant | - | 50 sq ft (IRC R304.2) |
| B&B Standard | - | MMC Ch. 22C.210 |
| State STR Law | - | RCW 64.37 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Marysville FAQ
How many guests can stay overnight in a Marysville Airbnb?
Marysville does not publish a per-bedroom STR cap, so the International Residential Code in MMC Title 16 controls. A bedroom must be at least 70 square feet for one sleeper plus 50 additional square feet per added occupant. The state's single-family Residential Code definition limits a dwelling to one family plus two unrelated boarders. Confirm with Marysville Community Development at 360-363-8100.
Is my Marysville short-term rental treated as a bed and breakfast?
Not automatically. MMC Chapter 22C.210 regulates owner-occupied bed and breakfast guesthouses and inns, which are typically capped at a small number of guest rooms in residential zones. A non-owner-occupied whole-house Airbnb is not a B&B under that chapter. Confirm whether your specific operation requires a B&B conditional use or other zoning approval with Marysville Community Development at 360-363-8100.
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