Kent, WA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Kent, WA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KCC 15.04.030(34)
- Use classification
- Accessory use (A), footnote 34
- License required
- City of Kent business license, Ch. 5.01 KCC
- Occupancy rule
- Owner/nontransient tenant 6+ months/year
- Room cap
- No more than 3 rooms rented
- State overlay
- Chapter 64.37 RCW insurance duties apply
Summary
Kent zones short-term rentals as an accessory use in residential districts, but operators need a city business license, must live in the home (or keep a nontransient tenant) at least six months a year, and can rent out no more than three rooms.
15.02.055 Short-term rental. Short-term rental means a dwelling or part thereof, other than a motel or hotel, where lodging, with or without meals, is provided, for compensation, for fewer than 30 consecutive nights. ... 34. The following restrictions apply to short-term rentals: a. A city of Kent business license is required in accordance with Chapter 5.01 KCC; b. The home shall be occupied by the owner or a nontransient tenant for at least six months of each year; c. No more than three rooms within the home or accessory structure may be offered as short-term rentals; and d. The applicant is responsible for complying with the short-term rental requirements of Chapter 64.37 RCW.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4542, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020, which lists "short-term rentals" as an allowed accessory use (A) subject to footnote (34). 37 RCW, which covers liability insurance and platform disclosure duties. 055 as a dwelling or part of one, other than a motel or hotel, where lodging is furnished for compensation for fewer than 30 consecutive nights. Because the use is accessory, it can only be layered onto a lawfully established residential use and cannot be combined with other overlapping accessory uses like a communal residence on the same lot. The city's Permit Center in the Economic and Community Development Department administers the business license application and can confirm zoning eligibility by parcel before a host lists a property.
Violations & Fines
Renting without the required City of Kent business license, letting a home sit vacant of an owner or nontransient tenant for more than six months of the year, or advertising a fourth room as a short-term rental all breach the KCC 15.04.030(34) conditions. A breach converts the accessory use into an unpermitted use, exposing the property to code enforcement action under the city's general zoning violation and business license provisions, including a stop-use order and civil penalties until the listing is brought back into compliance or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kent require a separate short-term rental permit beyond a business license?
Can I rent my entire house on Kent short-term rental platforms?
How many rooms can I list as a short-term rental in Kent?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kent
How Kent compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Kent to another location·View the Washington short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle short-term rental permits.