King County itself imposes no primary-residence restriction on short-term rentals in unincorporated areas, but several cities within the county, most notably Seattle, limit operators to their primary dwelling plus at most one additional unit.
Seattle Municipal Code 6.600 caps STR operators at two units total: a primary residence and one secondary dwelling, each requiring a separate operator's license. Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland have studied similar caps but as of 2026 enforce only registration and lodging-tax collection. Unincorporated King County imposes no primary-residence test; rural cabins, ADUs, and second homes may all be listed. Hosts should verify city of jurisdiction before listing because city limits do not always track ZIP codes, and a Seattle mailing address may sit outside Seattle city limits.
Seattle operators exceeding two-unit cap face license revocation, daily fines, and platform takedown. Unincorporated hosts face no primary-residence penalty but must comply with state RCW 64.37 obligations.
King County, WA
In unincorporated King County, fences 6 feet or less in height may be built on or within property lines without a building permit. Fences over 6 feet require...
King County, WA
Unincorporated King County's marine shoreline along Puget Sound and Vashon-Maury Island is regulated under the Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58), the King...
King County, WA
In unincorporated King County, an above-ground pool that can hold water more than 24 inches deep is regulated as a swimming pool under the Washington State R...
King County, WA
In unincorporated King County, a one-story detached storage shed of 200 square feet or less, accessory to a residential or agricultural use, is exempt from a...
King County, WA
Unincorporated King County requires private swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least five feet high under K.C.C. 16.70.020, with self-closing/self...
King County, WA
King County Ordinance 18467 (2017) limits county cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and Washington's Keep Washington Working Act (RCW 10.93.16...
See how King County's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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