Kennewick, WA Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Unlike Seattle (SMC 6.600), Spokane (SMC 17C.310), or Walla Walla, the City of Kennewick has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental chapter in the Kennewick Municipal Code, which is hosted by Code Publishing. The governing framework for an STR operating inside Kennewick therefore has three layers. First, the statewide Washington Short-Term Rental Operations Act, RCW Chapter 64.37, enacted by Substitute House Bill 1798 (2019), applies in every Washington jurisdiction. RCW 64.37.020 imposes operator duties including posting the address of the unit and the contact information of the operator or designee, providing the local emergency-services telephone number, and maintaining a posted floor plan that identifies fire-exits and smoke alarm locations. RCW 64.37.030 imposes platform duties to collect operator information and remit applicable taxes. RCW 64.37.040 requires operators or platforms to maintain primary liability insurance of at least $1 million covering each short-term rental, either through the operator's own policy or through coverage provided by the booking platform. Second, the City of Kennewick requires a general business license for any person engaging in business within the city; the business license is administered through the Washington Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Service under the state Master License System. Third, the use must be permitted in the property's base zone under KMC Title 18 (Zoning). There is no city-codified Kennewick STR cap, no owner-occupancy mandate, no hosted/unhosted distinction, and no STR-specific permit number distinct from the general business license.