City Watch — Seattle
Pending STR legislation and regulatory rating tracking for Seattle.
City portrait · J. Hamilton Studio
- Per-operator cap: max 1 STR unit, or max 2 if one is the operator's primary residence (SMC 6.600.030) — a single whole-home non-primary STR remains permitted, so whole-home STR is broadly available
- Mandatory annual STR operator regulatory license, $75 per unit (issuing began Jan 2, 2019)
- Primary-residence documentation required for the second unit
- Land-use accessory STR provision (SMC 23.42.060, eff. Jan 7, 2018) governs where STRs are allowed
- Business-entity principals limited to no more than two STR units, one being a primary residence
Based on: Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 6.600 (Short-Term Rentals), esp. §6.600.030 (operator license unit cap), enacted by
“Operator license permits max 1 dwelling unit, or max 2 if one is the operator's primary residence”— Seattle Municipal Code Ch. 6.600 (Short-Term Rentals), esp. §6.600.030 (operator license unit cap), enacted by
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Last reviewed Sep 21, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Seattle · system last checked Sep 21, 2026
City Watch tracks changes from public sources (council agendas, state bills, local news) as coverage is activated for this market — 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.