October 2024
Disclaimer. This page is intended solely to assist you in understanding the regulations you may need to comply with. The information provided here is not exhaustive and may not reflect the most current legal standards. It is your responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable laws. For further guidance, please contact your local tax authorities or consult with a qualified legal or tax professional.
On January 1, 2019, the City of Seattle passed the Ordinance 125490, which added Chapter 6.600 to the Seattle Municipal Code to regulate short-term rentals in the City. For more information about STR in Seattle please visit this official page or contact the City administration.
Occupancy Taxes
misterb&b registered with the relevant tax authorities to collect local sales and lodging taxes for stays not exceeding 29 consecutive days. For more information, check our FAQ about US sales/occupancy tax collection by misterb&b.
Please note you must register with the Washington Department of Revenue and obtain a Tax Certificate number (check online application here) before applying for a license (even though misterb&b manages the tax on your behalf).
Operational conditions
- Short-term rental. You operate a short-term rental when you rent a dwelling unit (or room in it) to Guests for less than 30 consecutive nights.
- Bed & breakfast. You operate a B&B if you rent rooms to travelers for less than 30 consecutive nights, and serve breakfast and/or light snacks. Please note Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 6.600 creates new requirements only for Operators listing B&B rooms on a short-term rental online platform (like misterb&b).
- Limited number of dwelling units licensed. With an STR Operator License, you can rent, for short term rental use, a maximum of 1 dwelling unit, or 2 dwelling units if 1 of them is the your primary residence. For limited exceptions, please refer to Seattle Municipal Code 6.600.040(B), this summary table and reference map for more information on the limits.
- Zoning and use restrictions. Short-term rentals are also subject to requirements and rules in the Land Use Code. For instance, notwithstanding some exceptions, no more than 8 people total may occupy a dwelling unit. Visit this official page on STRs and the Land Use Code by Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections.
Operator License
It is mandatory to obtain a license to operate a STR or a bed and breakfast.
- Online process. The license application process can be done online here. More information about the process here.
- Business License Tax Certificate. All applicants must secure a business license tax certificate from the Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services - applications may be submitted online here.
- Renewal. Your STR Operator license is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance - you can renew it online.
- Rental Regulation and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO). If you host in a secondary residence, you must register with the City’s RRIO program. The STR unit will undergo an inspection to ensure compliance with housing and building maintenance standards. For more information please visit the official page.
You must add the license number to your misterb&b listing(s) (go to the “Local Requirements” page, via “Edit my listing”). In the absence of a valid license number, misterb&b may delete your listing.
Maintaining compliance
Your hosting activity must respect all State and local regulations, including, without limitation, SMC Section 23.42.060, the Housing and Building Maintenance Code in subsection 22.214.050.M and the Rental Registration and Inspection program.
- Fire and safety. All dwelling units must have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarm(s) in every bedroom and on all habitable floors and a properly maintained and charged fire extinguisher.
- Serving food. If you serve food to Guests, all applicable State and King county health regulations must be met.
- Local contact. You must designate a local contact who must reside in King County, Washington and be available to respond to inquiries at the short-term rental during the length of the stay.
- Providing information to Guests. You must post the following information in a conspicuous place within the unit: emergency contact information for summoning police, fire, or emergency medical services; the STR street address; floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes; information about how a guest can contact the City's Customer Service Bureau to report any concerns or complaints; maximum occupancy limits; and contact information for the operator or the designated local contact.
- Insurance. You must maintain liability insurance appropriate to cover the STR use in the aggregate of not less than $1,000,000 or conduct each short-term rental transaction through a platform that provides equal or greater insurance coverage.
Third-party rules
- Community rules. You must abide by other contracts or rules binding you, such as co-op rules, CC&Rs, HOA rules, or other rules established by tenant organizations.
- Lease contract. If you are a renter, you must get the written permission from your landlord to use the property as a STR.
Data-sharing and privacy
misterb&b is required by law to save and share some information (about you or your transactions) with the city of Seattle. It includes the listing’s permit number, Host names, the listing’s address and the number of nights a Guest stayed at the unit.
By using misterb&b, you consent to the collection, retention, use and disclosure of his information to the City (in accordance with all legal obligations and processes).