Seattle, WA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 25.08 (Noise Control) governs sound levels citywide and applies to short-term rental guests just as it does to any resident. Maximum permissible exterior sound levels measured at the property line of a residential receiving zone are 55 dBA during daytime hours and 45 dBA during nighttime hours, when the source is also in a residential zone. Nighttime is defined as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends and legal holidays, the same window commonly described as quiet hours. Pure tone components reduce the allowable level by 5 dBA, and the maximum instantaneous (Lmax) level may not exceed the standard by more than 15 dBA. Chapter 25.08 also prohibits public-disturbance noises that are plainly audible across a property line, regardless of decibel reading, and addresses animal noise, amplified sound, and other nuisance sources. SMC Chapter 6.600 (Short-Term Rental Regulations) does not impose a separate STR-specific decibel standard, but operators must post their STR operator license number on every listing and are responsible for guest behavior; persistent, verified noise complaints are treated by the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) as a basis for license enforcement, including suspension or revocation, in addition to any direct citation against the offending guest. Noise complaints during nighttime hours are routed to the Seattle Police Department non-emergency line at 206-625-5011, while ongoing nuisance patterns may also be reported to SDCI Code Compliance at 206-615-0808.