City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Cle Elum, WA
How Cle Elum regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- STR permit required with building and fire safety inspection
- per-operator limit of 3 STRs per owner
- 250-foot spacing between STRs in residential zones; unlimited in commercial zones
- no owner-occupancy requirement; absentee whole-home STR permitted by-right
Based on: CEMC Chapter 17.160 Short-Term Rentals, established by Ordinance No. 1601 (adopted 2021-01-11; published 2021-01-14
Summary of the rule
'Short-term rental permit required. It shall be unlawful for any host to rent a short-term rental without first applying for an[d] obtaining a permit from the city.' STR-specific permit process; a City of Cle Elum business license, insurance on file, and a pre-issuance building/fire inspection are also required.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 17, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Cle Elum · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.