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

Chapter 17.105 LCC, adopted by Ord. 1367 in 2025, regulates short-term rentals of dwelling units, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, tiny homes, detached bedrooms, RVs, trailers, and yurts outside city limits. Section 17.105.040 sets the standards an operator must meet, and subsection (2) fixes the occupancy formula: no more than two guests per bedroom plus three additional guests, or the design capacity of the approved on-site septic system, whichever produces the higher number. The code defines a guest for this purpose as anyone over two years of age, so infants under two are excluded from the count.

This occupancy standard sits alongside the chapter's other operating rules: a county short-term rental permit from the Department of Community Development renewed annually (§ 17.105.040(1)), at least one on-site parking space per bedroom or unit (§ 17.105.040(3)), secure solid waste storage or collection service (§ 17.105.040(4)), and disclosure of current local burn restrictions to guests (§ 17.105.040(5)). Multifamily buildings cannot be used as short-term rentals unless they meet the urban growth area standards of LCC § 17.17.210, and three or more detached units on one parcel need approval as a cabin or yurt village under the Chapter 17.42 land use table.

Beginning July 1, 2026, failing to meet the § 17.105.040 standards, including the occupancy cap, is processed as a code violation under Chapter 1.20 LCC.