Port Townsend, WA Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Who it applies to
- Tourist homes, bed and breakfast inns
- Core rule
- Owner's primary residence only
- Proof required
- Driver's license or voter registration
- Owner presence
- Must be on site during rentals
- Pre-1989 exception
- Accessory building units grandfathered
Summary
Port Townsend limits short-term rentals in residential zones to bed and breakfast inns and tourist homes operated out of the owner's primary residence, not investment or absentee-owned properties.
Buildings that are not the primary residence of the owner may not be used as a tourist home. Provided, that a tourist home or a portion thereof lawfully established prior to June 1, 1989, may be located in an accessory building.
4. Tourist homes are only permitted in detached single-family residences. They are not allowed in duplex, triplex, or fourplex single-family residences.
5. Primary residency is established by providing identification including but not limited to a state driver’s license or identification card, voter’s registration, or any other document issued by a state or federal agency showing that the property is the primary residence.
6. The owner of a tourist home shall be on site during the time rental activity is taking place.
7. Kitchens, as defined in PTMC 17.08.040, are not allowed in rental units. A microwave and mini-refrigerator are allowed, and for the purpose of a tourist home these appliances are not considered to constitute a kitchen.
8. Occupancy. The maximum number of occupants allowed in a tourist home shall not exceed two adults per bedroom.
9. Appearance and Visibility. The use shall not change the residential character of the outside of a building, either by the use of colors, materials, signage, lighting; or by the construction of accessory structures or garages that are visible off site and not of the same architectural character as the residence.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under PTMC 17.57.020(B), a tourist home may not operate out of a building that isn't the owner's primary residence, and the owner must be on site while rental activity is occurring. Primary residency has to be proven with a driver's license, voter registration, or similar state or federal ID showing that address. A grandfather clause preserves tourist homes lawfully established in an accessory building before June 1, 1989. Bed and breakfast inns carry the same primary-residence requirement built into their definition at PTMC 17.08.020. Both use types also need a conditional use permit in residential zones and a city business license.
Violations & Fines
Operating a tourist home or bed and breakfast inn at a non-owner-occupied property, or without the owner on site during rentals, is grounds for denial or revocation of the conditional use permit and business license under Chapter 17.57 and Chapter 1.20 PTMC enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a short-term rental in Port Townsend if I don't live there?
How does Port Townsend verify a short-term rental is the owner's primary residence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
Compare Port Townsend 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.