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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

Annual night cap
None
Code
SCC 30.28.020(3)(f)
Minimum stay
None set by county
Tax threshold
One month = treated as lease
Scope
Unincorporated county

Summary

Unincorporated Snohomish County imposes no cap on rental nights. SCC 30.28.020(3)(f) states there is no limit on the number of days a guest may stay at the establishment. However, occupancy of one month or more is treated as a lease and falls outside the transient lodging tax.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Snohomish County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

There is no limit on the number of days a guest may stay at the establishment;

(g) The applicant shall submit a letter from the applicable water purveyor and sewer district, if applicable, stating that each of them has the respective capacity to serve the bed and breakfast establishment;

(h) The applicant shall comply with all applicable county codes for fire, health, and building requirements and any applicable food service regulations and on-site sewage disposal requirements of the county health department. The applicant shall comply with the applicable state regulations pertaining to public water systems, if a water system is to be developed or connected to an existing public water system;

(i) If three or more guest rooms are proposed, the applicant shall also meet state regulations pertaining to transient accommodation;

(j) If six guest rooms are proposed, the applicant shall meet all requirements for a hotel occupancy pursuant to the building code in chapter 30.52A SCC;

(k) If outbuilding(s) are proposed for guest rooms, each outbuilding shall be a minimum of 130 square feet. The aggregate outbuilding square footage for guest use shall not exceed 850 square feet; and

(l) If an accessory dwelling unit or temporary dwelling exists on the premises, the maximum number of bed and breakfast guest rooms shall be one less than otherwise permitted.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).

Full Breakdown

SCC 30.28.020(3)(f) expressly provides that "there is no limit on the number of days a guest may stay at the establishment," so the county does not impose annual night caps or minimum-stay requirements on a permitted bed-and-breakfast. For tax purposes, though, the lodging tax code (SCC 4.40.010 / 4.41.010) presumes that occupancy of a continuous month or more is a rental or lease, not taxable transient lodging. So while there is no operational night cap, stays crossing the one-month threshold change the tax treatment. City STR ordinances elsewhere in the county may impose their own annual night limits.

Violations & Fines

Because there is no county night cap, enforcement in this area focuses on permit and tax compliance rather than length-of-stay limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cap on how many nights I can rent?
No. SCC 30.28.020(3)(f) states there is no limit on the number of days a guest may stay at the establishment.
What happens if a guest stays a month or longer?
Stays of a continuous month or more are presumed a rental or lease under the lodging-tax code and are not treated as taxable transient lodging.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Snohomish County

All Snohomish County rules

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