Yakima, WA Short-Term Rentals: Registration Rules (2026)

Yakima's STR registration framework treats three records as the operative 'registration' of an STR. First, Washington Department of Revenue Business License Service registration at bls.dor.wa.gov is required for every business operating in Washington and produces the operator's Unified Business Identifier (UBI). This is the foundational state registration through which the operator becomes subject to combined excise tax reporting (state and local retail sales tax, the YMC 3.93 special 5% excise, the Yakima County TPA charge, and B&O tax). Second, the City of Yakima Business License is required for every rental property under YMC Title 5 and must be renewed annually; the license application includes property address and operator contact information and functions as the city's STR registry of record. Applicants apply through City Finance. Third, the Planning Division maintains a land use record for each STR address tied to the home-occupation compliance documentation (for owner-occupied home occupation STRs under YMC 15.04.120) or to the Type 1, 2, or 3 land use review approval (for larger or non-owner-occupied STRs). That land use record includes the floor plan with fire exits and escape routes, the site plan showing parking and STR configuration, and the operator's RCW 64.37 compliance documentation (CO alarm certification, 24/7 contact, insurance). The city does not publish a public STR registry comparable to King County or Seattle's. Hosting platforms operating in Washington (Airbnb, Vrbo) must separately register under RCW 64.37.040 with the Washington Department of Revenue, and platforms are required to provide guests with the operator's contact information. Renewals are annual for the City Business License; the WA DOR business license is renewed on the cycle DOR assigns. The Planning Division land use record remains valid for the life of the home occupation or land use approval but can be revisited at code-enforcement complaint or for material changes (additional units, change of owner-occupancy status).