Lewis County, WA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Lewis County, WA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Dept. of Community Development
- Renewal cycle
- Annual
- Application type
- Type I application
- Auto-revocation
- 1 year past renewal deadline
- Voluntary relinquishment notice
- 30 days written
- Violation enforcement begins
- July 1, 2026
Summary
Operating a short-term rental in unincorporated Lewis County requires an annually renewed permit from the Department of Community Development under LCC § 17.105.040(1), processed as a Type I application under § 17.105.050 with five documentation requirements.
§ 17.105.040. Standards. (1) The owner or legal representative shall obtain a short-term rental permit from Lewis County department of community development. Permits shall be renewed annually. ... § 17.105.050. Permit issuance. (1) The short-term rental permit shall be processed as a Type I application. (2) To obtain a permit, the property owner or agent authorized to act on the property owner's behalf shall demonstrate that all of the following are met: (a) The standards listed in LCC § 17.105.040. ... (3) Any short-term rental permit shall be renewed annually based on the permit issuance date. Failure to renew a permit within one year of the permit renewal deadline shall result in automatic revocation of the permit. ... (5) Beginning on July 1, 2026, failure to obtain and maintain a short-term rental permit, including meeting the standards of LCC § 17.105.040 and this section, shall be processed as a code violation pursuant to Chapter 1.20 LCC.
Full Breakdown
105 LCC (Ord. 1367, 2025) makes a county permit a precondition to operating a short-term rental outside city and small-town urban growth areas. 040(1) requires the owner or legal representative to obtain a short-term rental permit from the Lewis County Department of Community Development, with permits renewed annually. 040 operating standards, hold a certificate of occupancy, approved building permit, or a professional inspection completed within the prior three years, maintain a permitted and functioning septic, sewer, or other legal wastewater system, have an approved potable water source, and show proof of paid property taxes and fees.
Permits are renewed annually based on the issuance date, and failing to renew within one year of the renewal deadline results in automatic revocation. An owner may voluntarily relinquish a permit on 30 days' written notice to Community Development and must stop operating once the county confirms the revocation in writing. 20 LCC rather than merely a permit denial.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a required short-term rental permit, or letting one lapse for a year past the renewal deadline (triggering automatic revocation), is handled by Community Development. Beginning July 1, 2026, operating without a valid permit or failing to meet § 17.105.040 standards is prosecuted as a code violation under Chapter 1.20 LCC, which can carry civil penalties and abatement under Chapter 1.22 LCC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in unincorporated Lewis County?
What kind of application process is it?
What happens if I don't renew my permit on time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lewis County
How Lewis County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Lewis County to another location·View the Washington short-term rentals overview
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