City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Kirkland, WA
How Kirkland regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Owner or authorized agent must occupy the detached dwelling unit as a primary residence — non-owner-occupied whole-home STR foreclosed (KMC 7.02.300)
- Where the owner/agent occupies 245+ days/year, STR use is capped at 120 days/year
- No more than two STR agreements in effect at a time; device applies to detached dwelling units
Based on: Kirkland Municipal Code (KMC) 7.02.300 'Short-term rentals — Special provisions', enacted by Ordinance O-4607 (adopted
Summary of the rule
The property owner, or an authorized agent, must occupy the property as a primary residence at least 245 days per year to operate a short-term rental of a detached dwelling unit; short-term rentals are permitted without limit on frequency/total days only when the owner/agent continuously occupies the unit.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 16, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Kirkland · system last checked Oct 24, 2026
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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.