Short-term rental permit rules in Federal Way, WA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Federal Way STR operators must comply with RCW 64.37, which requires liability insurance, on-site safety info, and tax registration. A Federal Way business registration is also required.
Short-term rental operators in Federal Way (rentals under 30 consecutive days) must comply with the Washington Short-Term Rental Operator Requirements Act, RCW 64.37. State requirements include maintaining at least 1 million dollars in primary liability insurance or using a hosting platform that provides equivalent coverage, providing guests with on-site emergency contact info and safety information, registering with the Washington Department of Revenue, and collecting and remitting state and local lodging taxes. Federal Way requires a business registration through the Washington Business Licensing Service with a Federal Way endorsement. Federal Way Revised Code Title 19 zoning determines where transient lodging uses are allowed, and operators should confirm their address is eligible for short-term rental use.
Operating without a required license or insurance violates RCW 64.37 and Federal Way code. Fines can reach 500 dollars per violation and repeated failures can result in platform delisting and revocation of business endorsement.
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