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Is Airbnb legal in Seattle, Washington?

One of two units must be your primary residence. Seattle licenses at most two dwelling units per operator, and one of the two must be the operator's primary residence. A non-resident investor buying a whole home to Airbnb cannot get a license, though a resident host can add one second unit.

Showing the researched rules for Seattle, WA below. Type your Seattle address to jump to the verdict.

Not allowed

One of two units must be your primary residence

Seattle licenses at most two dwelling units per operator, and one of the two must be the operator's primary residence. A non-resident investor buying a whole home to Airbnb cannot get a license, though a resident host can add one second unit.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Rental Operator License
Issued by
City of Seattle
Cost
$75 / dwelling unit / year
Renewal
Annual

Key limits

Unit cap
2 per operator license
Primary residence
Required for one of the two units
Non-primary unit
RRIO registration required
Insurance
$1M liability required

Taxes

Lodging tax
10.1%
State sales tax on lodging
6.5%

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Get a business license tax certificate
    Obtain the Seattle Business License Tax Certificate first, through the Seattle Services Portal.
  2. 2
    Register with RRIO if needed
    Any non-primary unit must also register under the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance.
  3. 3
    Apply per unit
    Complete the STR operator license application for each unit, pay $75 per unit, and display the license number on every listing.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
HOA and condo rules can ban short-term rentals on top of the city's two-unit cap.
License does not transfer
The operator license is non-transferable, so a new owner must apply from scratch.

Sources

BNBCalc Seattle 2026 guide · Guestable Seattle 2026 permit guide

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.