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

As of this writing, unincorporated King County has not adopted a specific annual cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may be booked. Washington State does not have a statewide preemption or uniform STR framework, so local jurisdictions are free to regulate. King County has largely treated STRs under existing zoning, noise, and occupancy rules rather than through a dedicated short-term rental ordinance with night caps. This contrasts sharply with Seattle, which requires STR operator and platform licensing and caps non-primary-residence rentals, and with some other jurisdictions across the state that have adopted rental-night caps, owner-occupancy requirements, or zoning-district overlays. King County has studied short-term rental impacts in rural and suburban unincorporated areas, and the County Council could adopt future regulations, but standard unlimited-night operation remains allowed so long as the property is used as a short-term rental consistent with zoning (residential use continues) and other KCC requirements. Hosts should verify current rules before purchase or operation because proposed ordinances can change. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo do not enforce a county-specific night cap in unincorporated King County because none exists at the county level.