Short-term rental permit rules in Snohomish County, WA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
In unincorporated Snohomish County there is no standalone "Airbnb" license. Guest lodging in a home is regulated as a bed-and-breakfast under the Unified Development Code (SCC 30.28.020), requiring an administrative conditional use permit or building permit plus a certificate of occupancy before guests arrive.
SCC 30.28.020 governs bed-and-breakfast guesthouses (up to 3 guest rooms) and inns (up to 6 guest rooms). An application requires a site plan showing off-street parking, screening and structure size; architectural drawings for new construction; and a floor plan showing guest bathrooms and rooms. A certificate of occupancy must be obtained from the department before allowing guests, and it is subject to annual inspection and renewal. Whether a permit is a conditional or administrative conditional use permit depends on the zone (SCC 30.70.025). Incorporated cities (Everett, Lynnwood, City of Snohomish, etc.) set their own STR rules separately.
Operating without the required permit or certificate of occupancy is a code-enforcement violation under SCC Title 30/Title 7, subject to notice of violation, abatement, and daily civil penalties.
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