Clark County, WA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- STR owner-occupancy
- Not required by county
- B&B
- Owner-occupied primary residence
- Residence history
- 5 years before applying
- B&B status
- Accessory to household on site
- ADU
- Owner-occupancy requirement removed
Summary
Whole-home short-term rentals are not restricted to a primary residence in unincorporated Clark County. However, a bed-and-breakfast under CCC 40.260.050 must be the operator's owned, primary-residence home that has been used as a residence for at least five years before applying.
A bed and breakfast establishment must be accessory to a household living on the site, meaning that an individual or family who operates the establishment must own and occupy the house as their primary residence... the house must have been used as a residence for at least a total of five (5) years prior to filing the application.
Full Breakdown
The county does not impose a primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement on ordinary short-term/vacation rentals, so a non-owner-occupied whole-home rental is not prohibited by county STR rules. Owner-occupancy does govern the bed-and-breakfast use: a B&B must be accessory to a household living on the site, meaning the operator must own and occupy the house as their primary residence, and the house must have been used as a residence for at least a total of five years prior to filing the B&B application. Separately, the County Council removed the owner-occupancy requirement for accessory dwelling units, so an ADU is no longer tied to owner-occupancy of the main home.
Violations & Fines
Operating a B&B in a home that is not the operator's owned primary residence, or that fails the five-year residence history, is grounds for permit denial and code-enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must a Clark County short-term rental be my primary home?
What is the five-year rule for a bed-and-breakfast?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Washington short-term rentals overview
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