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.
Unincorporated King County permits whole-home short-term rentals; the host need not occupy the property during guest stays. Cities within the county set their own rules: Seattle requires a primary-residence operator's license tied to either the host's primary home or one additional unit, while Bellevue, Kent, and Redmond have lighter regimes. Statewide, RCW 64.37 requires every operator (hosted or unhosted) to maintain $1 million liability coverage and post a 24-hour contact. King County Sheriff responds to nuisance calls in unincorporated zones; chronic nuisance code applies if multiple verified complaints arise within a year.
Operating an unhosted STR is legal in unincorporated King County, but failure to provide 24-hour contact information or maintain insurance under RCW 64.37 may trigger state enforcement and platform delisting.
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way permits construction under WAC 173-60.050 exemptions between 7 AM and 10 PM. Sunday work near homes is typically restricted. Work outside the win...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way prohibits dogs that bark or howl continuously and disturb neighbors under FWRC Title 9. Typical threshold is 20 minutes of continuous noise. Comp...
Federal Way, WA
Outdoor music events in Federal Way need a special event permit on public property or when amplified beyond neighborhood levels. Receiving limits at residenc...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way limits on-street RV and boat trailer parking to 72 hours. In residential zones, RVs on private property must be parked on a paved or gravel surfa...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at the Transit C...
Federal Way, WA
Under RCW 46.55, Federal Way police can tag and tow a vehicle left on a public street for more than 72 hours. On private property, owners follow state impoun...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Federal Way's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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