Bellingham, WA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Bellingham's STR occupancy framework operates through three independent caps. First, BMC 20.10.037 sets a flat per-bedroom guest cap that applies city-wide regardless of permit type: 'no more than two guests, excluding children five years old and under, per bedroom are permitted per guest stay.' A two-bedroom Type I STR is therefore capped at four guests plus any children under five; a five-bedroom Type II or Type III-A STR is capped at ten guests plus any children under five. The exclusion for children five and under recognizes that very young children typically sleep with parents and do not need a separate bedroom. Second, the permit type determines the maximum bedroom count an STR can offer: Type I permits in residential zones allow up to two bedrooms, Type II permits in commercial / Urban Village zones allow up to five bedrooms (whether primary residence or otherwise), and Type III-A permits for non-primary residences in commercial / Urban Village zones allow up to five bedrooms. An STR with more bedrooms than the applicable cap cannot be permitted under BMC 20.10.037 and must use a different lodging classification (such as a small lodging house or hotel use). Third, the Washington State Building Code adopted under RCW Chapter 19.27 and Chapter 51-50 WAC sets the underlying occupant load, sleeping-room dimensions, and means-of-egress requirements that apply to every dwelling unit; an STR cannot exceed building-code occupant load even if it has fewer than the per-bedroom guest count. Bellingham's STR application includes a floor plan that must show fire exits and CO alarm placement. RCW 64.37.030 (consumer safety) requires every operator to provide CO alarms compliant with RCW 19.27.530, post emergency information, and provide life-safety information to guests. Owner-occupied residential-zone STRs that exceed the two-bedroom Type I cap or the per-bedroom guest cap convert the use to an unpermitted lodging classification subject to abatement. Compensated events (weddings, parties, retreats) are prohibited in residential zones.