Pierce County Code 18A.37.040(B) caps a vacation rental at five guest rooms and two guests per bedroom, not to exceed ten guests lodged at any time. A rental that needs more rooms or guests than these limits allow must obtain a Conditional Use Permit under subsection C.
Occupancy in unincorporated Pierce County follows a fixed formula in PCC 18A.37.040(B): a vacation rental may provide a total of five guest rooms, limited to two guests per bedroom, not to exceed ten guests lodged at any time. The bed-and-breakfast standard in subsection A likewise allows not more than five guest rooms and ten travelers. These are hard limits: under subsection C, if the standards in A or B are exceeded or cannot be met, the use requires a Conditional Use Permit instead of the affidavit process. State law adds a posting duty: RCW 64.37.030 requires operators to post the maximum occupancy and a floor plan showing fire exits inside each unit. Cities may set different limits.
Lodging more than ten guests, or providing more than five guest rooms, exceeds PCC 18A.37.040(B) and makes the rental unlawful without a Conditional Use Permit. Failing to post the maximum occupancy under RCW 64.37.030 is a separate violation.
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