Snohomish County, WA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Owner-occupancy
- Required
- Code
- SCC 30.28.020(3)(c)
- Location of rooms
- Within owner's single-family residence
- Guest-room kitchens
- Not allowed
- Unhosted whole-house
- Not contemplated
Summary
Unincorporated Snohomish County effectively requires an owner-occupied STR: SCC 30.28.020(3)(c) states the owner shall operate the facility and reside on the premises. The lodging must be within the owner's single-family residence, so absentee whole-house short-term rentals are not permitted as bed-and-breakfasts.
The owner shall operate the facility and reside on the premises.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
SCC 30.28.020(3)(c) requires that "the owner shall operate the facility and reside on the premises." The definitions reinforce this: SCC 30.91B.040 and 30.91B.050 describe guest rooms available "within a single family residence" plus outbuildings. Because guest rooms are part of the owner's home (kitchens are not allowed in individual guest rooms), the county's bed-and-breakfast framework is built around a resident host rather than an investor-owned, unhosted rental. Investors seeking unhosted rentals would generally not qualify under this use in the unincorporated county.
Violations & Fines
Operating as an absentee, non-owner-occupied rental falls outside the approved bed-and-breakfast use and is a land-use violation subject to county code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run an unhosted whole-house STR in the unincorporated county?
Must the rental be my primary residence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.