Short-Term Rentals in Chelan County, WA (2026)

10 rules for unincorporated Chelan County, Washington.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Chelan County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

No short-term rental may advertise, operate, or accept guests in unincorporated Chelan County without a valid short-term rental administrative land use permit or hearing-examiner-approved conditional use permit issued under Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(4)(A). Community Development administers the permit; violations fall under Title 16 enforcement.

Chelan County STR Land Use Permit Required

Significant Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(4)(A)(i)

Land Use Permit Required. (i) On or after September 27, 2021, and except as provided in subsection (4)(D)(i) of this section, no short-term rental owner or operator may advertise, offer, operate, rent, or otherwise make available or allow any other person to make available for occupancy or use as a short-term rental without a valid short-term rental administrative land use permit issued by the ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Every short-term rental in unincorporated Chelan County must operate in compliance with Chapter 7.35, Noise Control, and that requirement has to appear in the property's management plan. When neighbors file a public disturbance noise complaint, the owner or operator must resolve it within sixty minutes of notification or become jointly liable with the renter.

Chelan County STR Noise Compliance Rules

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(3)(E)

(E) Noise. (i) Short-term rentals must be operated in compliance with Chapter 7.35, Noise Control. This requirement must be included in the property management plan per subsection (3)(K) of this section. (ii) Public Disturbance Noise Complaints. Renters are subject to the provisions of Chapter 7.35. Owners or operators of short-term rental properties notified of complaints are responsible to...

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Taxes & Fees

Unincorporated Chelan County charges an annual short-term rental permit fee that scales with tier: six hundred dollars for a Tier 1 owner-occupied rental or a Tier 2 non-owner-occupied unit, and nine hundred dollars for a Tier 3 rental exceeding standard occupancy limits, under the Community Development fee schedule. Operating without registering first, then getting caught, doubles whatever fee would have applied.

Chelan County Short-Term Rental Permit Fees

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 3.24.010(a)

Fee Description Fee (Effective 08/01/2025) Fee (Effective 08/01/2026) Fee (Effective 08/01/2027) Notes/Multipliers ... Short-Term Rental: Tier 1 Annual or Renewal $600.00 $728.00 $832.00 Short-Term Rental: Tier 2 Annual or Renewal* $600.00 $728.00 $832.00 Short Term Rental: Tier 3 Annual and Renewal* $900.00 $1,092.00 $1,248.00 ... Short-Term Rental: After-the-Fact—(Any type that did not proper...

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Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Chelan County must provide residential parking on the same parcel as the rental, sized to Section 11.90.060's off-street parking table, and never inside a recorded access easement. The vehicle count includes boats, trailers, campers, and personal watercraft, and owners face joint liability if guest parking isn't cleared within sixty minutes of a complaint.

Chelan County STR Parking Requirements

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(3)(C)

(C) Parking. ... (i) Provide residential parking, not within any recorded access easement, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 11.90. (ii) The number of vehicles allowed at the short-term rental must be limited to the number required per Section 11.90.060; this requirement must be included in the property management plan per subsection (3)(K) of this section ... Properties with a short...

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Occupancy Limits

In unincorporated Chelan County, short-term rental occupancy is capped by tier: eight people overnight for Tier 1, twelve for Tier 2, and sixteen for Tier 3, all figured at two persons per bedroom including children. The bedroom count itself can never exceed what the Chelan-Douglas Health District approved for the on-site septic system, effective immediately with no grace period.

Chelan County STR Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(3)(B)

(B) Occupancy. (i) The number of rented or occupied bedrooms shall not exceed the number approved in relation to the on-site sewage system approved by the Chelan-Douglas health district, or strictly follow the requirements of any sewer district or other waste management provider that is being utilized by the rental. ... (ii) Tier 1 and Tier 2 Occupancy Limits. (a) Overnight Occupancy. The o...

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Insurance Requirements

Owners and operators of short-term rentals in unincorporated Chelan County must maintain primary liability insurance consistent with RCW 64.37.050. The county made this a condition of both new permits and continuing nonconforming status, requiring proof as of the September 27, 2021 effective date of the current ordinance.

Chelan County STR Liability Insurance Requirement

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(2)(E)(i)(e), (3)(N)

(e) Liability insurance shall be obtained consistent with RCW 64.37.050 as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section (September 27, 2021) per subsection (3)(N) of this section; and ... (N) Liability Insurance. A short-term rental owner or operator must maintain primary liability insurance consistent with RCW 64.37.050.

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Night Caps

A Chelan County Tier 1 short-term rental may rent out the entire dwelling for no more than fifteen total days in a calendar year without full-time owner presence, provided a qualified on-site person covers the owner's absence, under Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(2)(A)(i)(c).

Chelan County STR Fifteen-Day Annual Cap

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(2)(A)(i)

(c) the entire dwelling is rented no more than fifteen total days in a calendar year; provided, that an on-site qualified person is there during the owner’s absence. Portions of calendar days shall be counted as full days.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

A Tier 1 short-term rental in unincorporated Chelan County must be owner-occupied: Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(2)(A)(i) requires the owner to be personally present at the dwelling during the rental, whether renting spare rooms or the whole unit on the same parcel as their residence.

Chelan County Tier 1 STR Host-Presence Rule

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(2)(A)(i)

Tier 1. Owner-occupied (as defined in Section 14.98.1363) short-term rentals where either (a) rooms are rented and the owner (to include title holders, corporate officers, and contract purchasers) is personally present at the dwelling during the rental period, or (b) the short-term rental is located within the same parcel as the owner’s principal residence and the owner is personally present at...

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Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Short-term rentals in unincorporated Chelan County must be operated out of the owner's primary dwelling or a legally established accessory dwelling unit, never an RV, tent, or other mobile unit, under Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(3)(A)(i).

Chelan County STR Primary Residence Requirement

Some Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(3)(A)(i)-(ii)

Primary or Accessory Residence. (i) Short-term rentals must be operated out of an owner’s primary dwelling or a legally established accessory dwelling unit. In no case, shall an owner or operator make available a recreational vehicle, tent, or other temporary or mobile unit for short-term rental. (ii) A short-term rental owner may operate only one short-term rental per parcel as designated on t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Chelan County built a repeat-violation trigger into its short-term rental ordinance: two verified violations of the same standard, each left unabated within the required sixty-minute window, within six months of each other at the same property, expose the owner to added penalties under Chapter 16.20, including permit revocation under Section 16.20.040.

Chelan County STR Two-Strike Revocation Rule

Significant Restrictions

Chelan County Code § 11.88.290(3)(E)(iii)

(iii) Repeat Violations. Two verified public disturbance noise violations unabated within sixty minutes as provided in subsection (3)(E)(ii) of this section within six months of on the same property may also be subject to additional penalties under Chapter 16.20, up to and including revocation of the short-term rental land use permits under Section 16.20.040.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Chelan County ordinances

See every category we cover for Chelan County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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