Kennewick, WA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 4% special excise tax
- Applies to
- hotels, motels, trailer camps
- Collected by
- WA Dept. of Revenue
- Revenue goes to
- Public Facilities Fund
- Effective since
- April 1, 1974
Summary
Kennewick imposes a 4% special excise tax on hotel, motel, and short-term lodging charges under KMC 3.20.010, collected by the Washington Department of Revenue alongside state sales tax.
For the purposes set forth in Chapter 67.28RCW, the Council of the City, being the legislative and governing body of the City, does impose and levy a special excise tax of four percent on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, trailer camp and the granting of any similar license to use real property, provided, that it shall be presumed that the occupancy of real property for a continuous period of one month or more constitutes a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to use or to enjoy the same.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
The City of Kennewick levies a 4% special excise tax on charges for furnishing lodging by hotels, rooming houses, tourist courts, motels, and trailer camps within city limits, per Kennewick Municipal Code Section 3.20.010. Stays of one month or more are presumed to be a rental rather than a taxable license to use. The Washington State Department of Revenue administers and collects the tax as the city's agent alongside the state's own sales tax under RCW ch. 82.08, and the first two percentage points are credited against what operators otherwise owe the state under KMC 3.20.035. Revenue is credited to the Public Facilities Fund per KMC 3.20.040.
Violations & Fines
It is unlawful to violate or fail to comply with any provision of KMC Chapter 3.20; violators are punished under KMC 1.12.010, the code's general penalty section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kennewick's lodging tax apply to short stays?
Who collects Kennewick's 4% lodging tax?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
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