Host Presence Rule: San Francisco vs Seattle
How do host presence rule rules compare between San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA?
San Francisco and Seattle have similar restriction levels.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco County
San Francisco distinguishes hosted stays (host present overnight) from unhosted stays (host absent). Unhosted rentals are capped at 90 nights yearly while hosted stays have no annual cap, encouraging genuine home sharing over de facto hotels.
View full San Francisco rules →Seattle, WA
King County
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.
View full Seattle rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Francisco | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Unhosted cap | 90 nights per year | - |
| Hosted cap | No annual limit | - |
| Code section | Police Code 41A.5(g) | - |
| Reporting frequency | Quarterly host reports | - |
| Code | - | SMC 6.600 |
| Effective | - | January 2019 |
| Unit cap | - | 2 dwelling units |
| STR tax | - | $14/night |
| Sales+lodging tax | - | ~15.6% |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Francisco FAQ
What counts as a hosted stay in San Francisco?
A hosted stay requires the registered primary resident to physically sleep at the property during the guest's visit. Leaving for the night, even briefly, converts it to unhosted under OSTR audits.
Do hosted nights still count toward primary-residence proof?
Yes. Hosted stays count as resident occupancy and apply toward the 275-night annual primary-residence threshold required for registration.
Seattle FAQ
Can I run an Airbnb in a non-primary Seattle property?
Yes, but only one such unit beyond your primary residence. Seattle caps each operator at two STR units citywide. Additional units require selling or long-term renting.
Do I have to live on-site while guests are there?
No. SMC 6.600 does not require host presence. Whole-home rentals are allowed. The binding limit is the two-unit cap and licensing/tax obligations.
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