Seattle, WA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- First violation penalty
- $500 (or a warning)
- Repeat violation penalty
- $1,000 per violation
- Look-back window for strikes
- 5 years
- Response deadline
- 15 calendar days after citation
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate violation
- Appeal body
- Office of the Hearing Examiner
Summary
Seattle doubles the civil penalty for repeat short-term rental violations: a first violation under SMC 6.600.120 draws a $500 citation (or a warning at the Director's discretion), while any second or later violation within five years jumps to $1,000 per violation, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
5. Citation penalties. a. First violation. The first time a person is found to have violated one of the provisions referenced in subsection 6.600.120.A the person shall be subject to a penalty of $500. The Director may, in an exercise of discretion, issue a warning to the person responsible for the violation if that person has not been previously warned or cited for violating this Chapter 6.600. b. Second and subsequent violations. Any second or subsequent time a person is found to have violated one of the provisions referenced in subsection 6.600.120.A within a five (5) year period, the person shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 for each subsequent violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
110. 600 requirement applicable to operators), the Director issues a civil citation through the Department of Finance and Administrative Services. 5 sets the strike structure: the first time a person is found to have violated one of the referenced provisions, the penalty is $500, though the Director may instead issue a warning in their discretion if the person has not previously been warned or cited. Any second or subsequent violation found within a five-year period carries a $1,000 penalty for each subsequent violation -- double the first-strike amount, with no cap on how many $1,000 citations can accumulate.
Each day a person continues to violate or fails to comply is treated as a separate violation, so an uncorrected condition can generate a new citation daily. A cited person has 15 calendar days to respond by paying, requesting a mitigation hearing, or requesting a contested hearing before the Office of the Hearing Examiner; failing to respond results in an order finding the violation committed and imposing the cited penalty. Unpaid penalties may be referred to a collection agency, with collection costs added to the amount owed. Ordinance 127303 amended this penalty structure in 2025, building on the original 2017 enactment under Ordinance 125490.
Violations & Fines
First violation: $500 citation (Director may substitute a warning at first offense). Second or later violation within five years: $1,000 per violation. Each day of continued noncompliance counts as a separate violation. Citations are heard by the Hearing Examiner; unpaid penalties may be referred to collections with added collection costs, per SMC 6.600.120.B.5.c.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens on a first short-term rental violation in Seattle?
How much is the penalty for a repeat STR violation?
Can I contest a short-term rental citation in Seattle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
Compare Seattle 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.