Kirkland, WA Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Unlike Seattle, Kirkland does not impose a numerical per-year cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may operate. Instead, Ordinance O-4755 restricts STR activity through zoning and operator-occupancy requirements: in most residential zones, short-term rentals are allowed only when the operator occupies the dwelling as a primary residence, while non-owner-occupied STRs are generally limited to commercial or mixed-use zones and accessory dwelling units that meet additional standards. A short-term rental is defined under the ordinance as the rental of a dwelling unit for fewer than 30 consecutive nights, and the City treats any longer rental as a conventional lease not subject to STR rules. Operators should consult the Planning and Building Department before converting a property to full-time STR use, since non-conforming STRs may be subject to discontinuance if identified during code enforcement review. Although there is no night cap, operators must still comply with tax, licensing, insurance, safety, occupancy, and noise rules, and repeated nuisance or noise violations can result in revocation of the business license regardless of the number of nights booked. The City has reserved the right to enact more restrictive STR limits if nuisance patterns emerge, and operators should monitor Council agendas for future amendments.