6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Benton County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Benton County has no short-term-rental permit or licensing chapter. STRs operate under county zoning plus a Washington state business license. The Tri-Cities regulate rentals within their own limits.
Short-term-rental guests in unincorporated Benton County follow the same rules as everyone: WAC 173-60 property-line limits and the BCC 6A.15 nuisance standard, with a 45 dBA ceiling after 10 p.m.
WAC 173-60-040
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the noise limitations of the foregoing table shall be reduced by 10 dBA for receiving property within Class A EDNAs.
Short-term stays in Benton County owe Washington retail sales tax and B&O tax on the rental, plus a 2% Tri-Cities-area special lodging tax. Airbnb and Vrbo collect many of these automatically.
WAC 458-20-166
All fees charged for lodging and related services to transient tenants are retail sales.
Unincorporated Benton County sets no short-term-rental parking rule; guests park on the property under the zoning district's general standards. Rural desert lots rarely strain parking. HOA covenants are the main limit.
Benton County limits the number of guests allowed in short-term rental properties. Occupancy caps are typically based on bedroom count or square footage to protect neighborhood quality of life.
Benton County may require hosts to carry liability insurance for short-term rental properties. Minimum coverage amounts vary by jurisdiction.
1 cities in Benton County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Benton County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Benton County Ordinance Hub →