12 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in King County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Short-term rental operators in unincorporated King County must obtain a Washington State business license from the Department of Revenue and comply with King County zoning under KCC Title 21A. The Permitting Division manages STR regulations for unincorporated areas including White Center, Skyway, Fairwood, and Vashon Island.
Short-term rentals in unincorporated King County must comply with KCC 12.86 and KCC 12.88. Quiet hours run 10 pm to 7 am, with residential limits of 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime measured at the property line.
King County short-term rentals owe Washington State sales tax, state and county lodging taxes, and B&O tax. Combined lodging-related taxes in unincorporated areas commonly total 12 to 15 percent of the nightly rate.
Unincorporated King County has no STR-specific parking rule. Standard residential parking in KCC 21A.18 applies, generally requiring two on-site spaces per dwelling. Vehicles cannot block roads, driveways, or fire lanes.
Unincorporated King County applies Washington State Building Code and KCC 16.04 to STR occupancy. A common rule is two guests per bedroom plus two additional, subject to egress and 70 sq ft minimum bedroom rules.
Unincorporated King County sets no STR insurance minimum. Hosts should carry a homeowner or landlord policy with an STR endorsement. Airbnb and Vrbo liability programs only supplement private coverage.
Unincorporated King County does not impose a rental-night cap on short-term rentals. Washington State does not preempt local STR rules, but King County has not adopted a cap. Seattle and some cities have their own caps.
King County does not impose a hosted-only rule for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. Hosts may rent entire dwellings without being on-site, subject to King County Code and Washington state STR transparency requirements under RCW 64.37.
King County itself imposes no primary-residence restriction on short-term rentals in unincorporated areas, but several cities within the county, most notably Seattle, limit operators to their primary dwelling plus at most one additional unit.
Properties in unincorporated King County that generate three or more verified noise, disorderly-conduct, or code calls within a 12-month window may be declared chronic nuisances under King County Code Title 14, exposing owners to abatement orders.
Under RCW 64.37, Airbnb, Vrbo, and other booking platforms operating in King County must require operators to attest to insurance, registration, and tax compliance, and must remove listings that fail to meet state and local requirements.
8 cities in King County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
6 verified rules • Host Presence Rule, Noise Rules
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
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