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

Under SMC Chapter 6.600 and SMC 23.42.060, a short-term rental is the rental of a dwelling unit (or part of one) for fewer than 30 consecutive nights. An operator may hold an STR operator license for up to two units in Seattle: one primary residence, in which the operator lives more than six months of the year, plus one secondary unit located within city limits. The primary unit may include an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU/DADU) or an in-law apartment within the operator's primary residence. Rented rooms within the primary or secondary unit that lack their own kitchen and bathroom do not count as separate units and do not require a separate license, but they are still covered by the operator's existing license. Limited grandfather rights exist for legacy operators in the Downtown Urban Core who registered before September 30, 2017 and meet additional conditions; renter-occupied units generally cannot be operated as STRs except under that legacy exception. STRs are categorically prohibited in RVs, tents, garages, boats, floating on-water residences, shoreline waterfront residences, live-work units, and caretaker's quarters in commercial/industrial buildings. SMC 6.600 itself does not assign a numeric guests-per-bedroom cap; instead, the operator must comply with applicable Building Code, Housing and Building Maintenance Code (SMC Title 22), and Fire Code occupant-load and habitable-room standards for the structure. Each listing must display the STR operator license number in the format STR-OPLI-##-######, and non-primary residence STRs must also be registered under the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO) with periodic inspections every 5 to 10 years.