Short-Term Rentals in Yakima County, WA (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yakima County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Any short-term rental in unincorporated Yakima County needs a conditional use permit before it can host paying overnight guests. Yakima County Code § 19.18.420 defines a short-term rental as a dwelling rented to guests for fewer than 30 consecutive days, limits a single parcel to five rental units, and requires Planning Division review before an owner can legally start booking.
Yakima County STR Conditional Use Permit
Significant RestrictionsYCC § 19.18.420(2)-(4)
(2) Permitted zones. Short-term rental use is a permitted use in all zoning districts that allow residential dwellings as a permitted use. (3) Eligible dwellings and limitations. The residential unit must be a legally established residence as defined by the building and planning departments. No more than five short-term rental units shall be allowed on a single parcel. Where a single parcel of ...
Noise Rules
Short-term rental guests must obey the same noise limits as residents: WAC 173-60's 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime for residential property, with only brief exceedances allowed. Loud parties can trigger complaints and permit review.
Yakima STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsWAC 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.
Taxes & Fees
Short-term rental operators in unincorporated Yakima County must hold the state and local business licenses the operation requires and collect the county's lodging tax. YCC § 19.18.420(6) folds state and federal licensing and tax rules into the STR permit, while § 3.05.010 imposes a two percent special excise tax on charges for lodging.
Yakima County STR Business License & Lodging Tax
Some RestrictionsYCC § 19.18.420(6); § 3.05.010
(6) Business license required. Short-term rentals shall meet all state and federal regulations, including those pertaining to business licenses and taxes. § 3.05.010. Special Excise Tax Imposed. For the purposes set forth in RCW Chapter 67.28, there is levied and there shall be collected a special excise tax of two percent on the sale of, or charge made for, the furnishing of lodging by a hotel...
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Every short-term rental in unincorporated Yakima County must provide one off-street parking space for each guest unit before the county will approve it. County Code § 19.18.420(5)(b) ties that space directly to the parking design standards in Chapter 19.22, so a rental cannot rely on street parking to satisfy the requirement.
Yakima County STR Off-Street Parking Rule
Some RestrictionsYCC § 19.18.420(5)(b)
(b) Parking. One off-street parking space per guest unit shall be provided, meeting the design standards of 19.22. (c) Signage. Signs must comply with the signs chapter, YCC § 19.20. (6) Business license required. Short-term rentals shall meet all state and federal regulations, including those pertaining to business licenses and taxes. (7) Severability. If any term or provision of th...
Occupancy Limits
Yakima County caps how many guests a short-term rental can sleep by tying the number to the International Building Code rather than a flat headcount. County Code § 19.18.420(5)(a) makes the property owner responsible for keeping every booking within that IBC-based occupancy limit as a standing condition of the required conditional use permit.
Yakima County STR Occupancy Limit
Some RestrictionsYCC § 19.18.420(5)(a)
(5) Criteria for approval. The following criteria shall be met for approval of a property to be authorized by the County as a short-term rental. (a) Occupancy. Maximum occupancy of the short-term rental shall be based on the International Building Code standards. The property owner shall be responsible for ensuring that the short-term rental is in conformance with its maximum occupancy. (...
Short-Term Rentals by City in Yakima County
1 cities in Yakima County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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