Bellingham, WA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- Revocation bar
- Two years before new permit
- First step
- Voluntary compliance attempt required
- Appeal
- Hearing examiner under BMC 21.10.250
- Abandonment
- 1 year idle voids B&B use
Summary
Bellingham bars a revoked short-term rental or bed-and-breakfast operator from getting a new permit for two years, after the planning director first tries to secure voluntary compliance before revoking.
If an operator fails to comply with the regulations of this section and conditions of approval, the planning director shall work with the applicant to achieve voluntary compliance. If voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, the planning director may revoke a short-term rental permit for failure to comply with the regulations of this section. Any such decision may be appealed to the hearing examiner in accordance with BMC 21.10.250.
b. A legally established, previously approved bed and breakfast use is abandoned if the use ceases for at least one year. An operator seeking to reestablish the bed and breakfast use shall obtain a short-term rental permit to operate a bed and breakfast facility.
c. A new short-term rental permit will not be issued to the operator of a revoked bed and breakfast facility or short-term rental until two years from the time of revocation have passed.
18. Nonconforming Status. No use that constitutes or purports to be a short-term rental, which was engaged in that activity prior to the adoption of this section, will be deemed to have been a legally established use under the provisions of the Bellingham Municipal Code and that use will not be entitled to claim legal nonconforming status.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
BMC 20.10.037(D)(17) lets the planning director revoke a short-term rental permit for noncompliance, but only after first working with the operator toward voluntary compliance; revocation decisions can be appealed to the hearing examiner under BMC 21.10.250. Once revoked, the operator cannot obtain a new short-term rental or bed-and-breakfast permit until two full years have passed from the revocation. A previously approved bed-and-breakfast use is also deemed abandoned, and needs a fresh STR permit to reopen, if it sits idle for at least a year.
Violations & Fines
Applying for a new short-term rental or bed-and-breakfast permit before the two-year bar expires violates BMC 20.10.037(D)(17)(c); the application will be denied.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a revoked Bellingham short-term rental permit banned?
Does the city revoke an STR permit immediately for a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
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