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

10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Clark County, Washington.

Verified from official government sources

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

Permit Requirements

Unincorporated Clark County does not license whole-home short-term (vacation) rentals; no county STR permit exists. Any rented space must have a valid building permit on file. Owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast use is the only overnight-lodging use with a county land-use permit (CCC 40.260.050).

Do You Need a Permit for a Short-Term Rental in Clark County?

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

There is no STR-specific noise rule. Guests and hosts must follow Clark County's public-disturbance noise provisions and Washington's maximum environmental noise limits (WAC 173-60), which cap sound crossing property lines and set lower nighttime limits for residential areas.

Short-Term Rental Noise Rules in Clark County

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Hosts renting under 30 days must collect and remit Washington retail sales tax plus lodging and convention/trade-center taxes on the rental charge, reported through the Department of Revenue. Transient rental income tax is deducted from the state sales tax, so it is not an extra charge to guests.

Short-Term Rental Taxes in Clark County

Some Restrictions

WA DOR Lodging Guide — Personal home rentals

Property owners must collect and pay retail sales tax on the rental charges. They also need to pay lodging and convention and trade center taxes, depending on the location of the property.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parking Rules

Unincorporated Clark County sets no dedicated STR parking standard. For a bed-and-breakfast, CCC 40.260.050 requires two off-street parking spaces plus one more for each bedroom rented, with any added parking screened from abutting property by a five-foot solid fence or hedge.

Parking Rules for Clark County Rentals

Some Restrictions

CCC 40.260.050

A minimum of two (2) off-street parking spaces, plus one (1) off-street parking space for each bedroom to be rented, are required. Any additional parking needed to accommodate the use shall be screened from abutting property by a minimum five (5) foot tall solid fence or hedge.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Unincorporated Clark County sets no whole-home STR occupancy cap. For the county-regulated bed-and-breakfast use, up to six guest bedrooms may be rented within the operator's own residence under CCC 40.260.050. General building- and fire-code occupancy limits still apply to any dwelling.

Occupancy Limits for Clark County Rentals

Some Restrictions

CCC 40.260.050

A bed and breakfast establishment is a residence where an individual or family resides and rents up to six (6) bedrooms to guests and provides breakfast to those guests.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Clark County code sets no specific insurance requirement for short-term rentals or bed-and-breakfasts. There is no county-mandated liability-coverage minimum; hosts should carry commercial or short-term-rental liability coverage voluntarily and meet any platform or lender requirements.

Insurance Requirements for Clark County Rentals

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

Unincorporated Clark County sets no annual cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may operate. There is no rented-nights limit for vacation rentals or for a bed-and-breakfast under CCC 40.260.050; the B&B is a year-round permitted use once approved.

Annual Night Caps on Clark County Rentals

Some Restrictions

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Registration Rules

There is no county STR registry for unincorporated Clark County. Hosts must instead register with the Washington Department of Revenue for a business/tax account. A bed-and-breakfast is 'registered' through the CCC 40.260.050 land-use application, not a rental registry.

Short-Term Rental Registration in Clark County

Some Restrictions

WA DOR Lodging Guide — Personal home rentals

Advertise the property availability for overnight accommodations through online marketplaces, newspapers, or other publications... Hire a property manager to handle the rental of the property... Engage in any short-term rental contracts (less than 30 days in a row per consumer).

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Unincorporated Clark County does not require a host to be present at a short-term rental. For a bed-and-breakfast, the operator must live on site, since a B&B must be accessory to a household residing at the property and be the operator's primary residence (CCC 40.260.050).

Host-Presence Rules for Clark County Rentals

Some Restrictions

CCC 40.260.050

A bed and breakfast establishment must be accessory to a household living on the site, meaning that an individual or family who operates the establishment must own and occupy the house as their primary residence.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Whole-home short-term rentals are not restricted to a primary residence in unincorporated Clark County. However, a bed-and-breakfast under CCC 40.260.050 must be the operator's owned, primary-residence home that has been used as a residence for at least five years before applying.

Primary-Residence Rules for Clark County Rentals

Some Restrictions

CCC 40.260.050

A bed and breakfast establishment must be accessory to a household living on the site, meaning that an individual or family who operates the establishment must own and occupy the house as their primary residence... the house must have been used as a residence for at least a total of five (5) years prior to filing the application.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rentals by City in Clark County

1 cities in Clark County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

VancouverPop. 190,915

6 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Noise Rules

All Clark County ordinances

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

Clark County Ordinance Hub →