Seattle, WA Short-Term Rentals: Host Platform Liability (2026)

Seattle's short-term rental ordinance does not just regulate hosts: it makes the booking platform itself independently liable for compliance failures. 600 requirement applicable to platforms. The Director investigates suspected violations and, if warranted, issues a notice of violation stating the provisions violated, the corrective action needed, and a compliance due date; the platform can request Director review within ten business days. 4: a platform found violating or failing to comply faces a cumulative penalty per violation for each individual listing, running from the date the violation begins until compliance is achieved, of $500 per day for the first ten days and $1,000 per day for every day beyond that.

Civil actions to enforce the licensing, general-provisions, and violations sections against platforms are brought exclusively in Seattle Municipal Court by the City Attorney at the Director's request, with the City bearing the burden of proving a violation by a preponderance of the evidence, and Municipal Court decisions can be appealed to Superior Court under the Rules for Appeal of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction.