Market overview
Allowed, with material limits.
Each unit needs a yearly $75 City of Seattle operator license, and most hosts may run at most two units: their primary residence and one more.
Property eligibility: Not assessed A market overview can't tell whether a specific home qualifies (zoning, permits, HOA).
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Stays of 30 nights or more fall outside the short-term rental rules here and are let as ordinary rentals.
Guests staying this long can gain tenant rights, such as protection from eviction.
Not legal advice. The legal framework, notes and sources are in the full report.
17 rules on record for Seattle, 6 of them from government sources. Every rule traced to its official source. How we research
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Source: City of Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services (services.seattle.gov, official), checked 5 Nov 2026. Official links, citations and how to apply come with a paid plan.
Yes, with material limits. Each unit needs a yearly $75 City of Seattle operator license, and most hosts may run at most two units: their primary residence and one more.
Yes, a license or registration is required.
15.7% in total on stays, on our records.
No night cap is on record.
Stays of 30 nights or more fall outside the short-term rental rules here and are let as ordinary rentals. Guests staying this long can gain tenant rights, such as protection from eviction.
We last checked the short-term rental rules for Seattle on 5 Nov 2026.
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental rules for 5,120+ places, with every rule traced to its official source.
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