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Bellingham, WA Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Bedroom cap
up to 5, incl. ADU
Residential review
Type II
Commercial/urban village review
Type I
Residency & rental limits
same 270/95-day rules

Summary

Bellingham's larger "Primary Residence" short-term rental category, up to five bedrooms including an ADU, needs Type II administrative review with neighbor notice in residential zones, versus Type I for the smaller two-bedroom category.

Primary Residence. No more than 5 bedrooms in a dwelling unit, including an accessory dwelling unit (when permitted), may be rented to overnight guests. The subject dwelling unit must serve as the primary residence of the applicant (the owner or long-term tenant) for no less than 270 days per year. The whole dwelling unit may be rented for no more than 95 days per year.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).

Full Breakdown

BMC 20.10.037(C)'s process table sets a second Primary Residence tier: up to five bedrooms in a dwelling unit, including an accessory dwelling unit where permitted, may be rented to overnight guests. In residential general use type areas this larger category requires Type II review, a step up from the Type I review that covers the smaller two-bedroom Primary Residence category; in commercial and urban village areas it stays Type I. It carries the same 270-day primary-residency floor and 95-day whole-unit rental ceiling as the smaller category, except those two limits drop away in commercial and urban village areas.

Violations & Fines

Renting more than five bedrooms under this category, or operating under Type I review in a residential zone where Type II is required, violates BMC 20.10.037(C) and can bring Chapter 20.52 BMC penalties and permit revocation under (D)(17).

Frequently Asked Questions

What permit does a 5-bedroom Bellingham home-share need?
In residential areas it needs Type II review under BMC 20.10.037(C); in commercial and urban village areas, Type I review applies instead.
Does the larger home-share category still have a residency requirement?
Yes, in residential zones. The dwelling must be the applicant's primary residence at least 270 days per year, per the same table in BMC 20.10.037(C).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bellingham

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental PermitsSignificant RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsPrimary-Residence-Only RuleSome RestrictionsTaxes & FeesSome RestrictionsNight CapsSome RestrictionsInsurance RequirementsSome RestrictionsNoise RulesSome RestrictionsRepeat Violator StrikesSignificant RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome Restrictions

All Bellingham rules

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