STR rules by city / Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA short-term-rental rules
Seattle requires every short-term-rental operator to hold a short-term-rental operator regulatory license and to include the license number on each listing before renting a unit for fewer than 30 consecutive nights.
What does Seattle, WA require?
Seattle requires every short-term-rental operator to hold a short-term-rental operator regulatory license and to include the license number on each listing before renting a unit for fewer than 30 consecutive nights.
How much is the Seattle permit fee?
$75 per unit for the operator regulatory license.
How often do I renew?
Annual. The operator license must be renewed every 12 months.
What else should I know?
- Booking platforms pay a separate per-night licensing fee; that is not the operator's cost.
- The operator license is issued by the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS).
Source: City of Seattle — Business Regulations, Short-Term Rentals (operator license). Verified as of July 4, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the current requirement with your city before you submit.
Seattle, WA short-term-rental permit questions
- Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Seattle, WA?
- Seattle requires every short-term-rental operator to hold a short-term-rental operator regulatory license and to include the license number on each listing before renting a unit for fewer than 30 consecutive nights.
- How much does a Seattle short-term-rental permit cost?
- $75 per unit for the operator regulatory license.
- How often do I renew my Seattle short-term-rental registration?
- Annual. The operator license must be renewed every 12 months.
Ready to register in Seattle?
The $49 Permit Packet turns these rules into a pre-filled, submission-ready registration packet plus a renewal calendar, with every requirement cited to Seattle's primary source. You review it, then submit it to the city.
Running more than one unit in Seattle? Add Renewal Monitoring for $29/year and we'll watch each permit and email you ahead of every deadline.
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STRPermitKit is an independent document-preparation tool — not legal advice, not affiliated with Airbnb, Vrbo, or any city government; verify all requirements with your city.