Chelan County, WA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)

290(3)(A) sets the primary or accessory residence rule that applies to every short-term rental in the unincorporated county regardless of tier. Subsection (i) requires that the rental be operated out of the owner's primary dwelling or a legally established accessory dwelling unit, and expressly bars an owner or operator from ever making a recreational vehicle, tent, or other temporary or mobile unit available for short-term rental. Subsection (ii) limits an owner to one short-term rental per parcel, designated on the permit application as either the primary dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit but not both, and requires the property owner, defined to include title holders, corporate officers, and contract purchasers, to occupy whichever unit is not being rented as their permanent residence.

Where a corporate entity holds title, at least one principal officer must permanently reside on the property. The code accepts government-issued identification, voter registration, or utility bills as proof of residence, and bars the same owner from renting more than one unit within a multifamily dwelling. 030. Community Development verifies primary-residence status and the ADU designation when reviewing short-term rental land use permit applications and renewals under subsection (4).