Owner Guide · Seattle Licensing
Getting your Seattle short-term rental license.
Every Airbnb in Seattle with stays under 30 nights needs a city license. Here are the steps in plain English, with a link to every official page.
The short answer
To host stays under 30 nights in Seattle, the owner needs a City of Seattle business license tax certificate and a short-term rental operator license, with the license number on every listing. A unit that isn't the owner's primary residence must also be registered under RRIO. Most owners may license up to two units, and one of them must be their primary residence.
Step by step
Seven steps to a licensed listing.
- 01
Check that you're eligible
Seattle licenses owners. Most operators may host up to two dwelling units they own, and if they host two, one must be their primary residence. Renters can't be licensed unless they qualify for the Downtown Urban Core legacy exception (see our arbitrage guide). RVs, boats, tents, garages and some waterfront homes can't be short-term rentals at all.
- 02
Get a Seattle business license tax certificate
Apply online through FileLocal. The city says to allow about 48 hours for processing.
- 03
Register with RRIO if it isn't your primary residence
A dedicated short-term rental unit, including a backyard cottage or other ADU on your property, must be registered under the city's Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance before you apply. A primary residence only has to meet basic habitability standards.
- 04
Apply for the short-term rental operator license
Apply through the Seattle Services Portal. When we checked on October 4, 2026, the city listed the license at $75 per unit, valid for one year. The license must be in the owner's name, even if a property manager or co-host runs the rental.
- 05
Put the license number on every listing
The city requires the number on every listing that advertises the unit, on any platform, in the format STR-OPLI-##-######. On Airbnb, you add the number and its expiration date to the listing.
- 06
Meet the operating standards
Post basic safety information in the unit, give guests a local contact number, and keep the home up to current building and safety codes and the city's Land Use Code.
- 07
Renew every year
The license expires 12 months after it's issued. The city emails a reminder, and you renew in the Seattle Services Portal under My Records.
Also worth knowing
Taxes and state rules.
- Lodging taxes. Airbnb's help center says Airbnb collects and remits Washington state and local taxes on bookings made through Airbnb, paid by the guest. Bookings on other channels can work differently.
- State licensing. Seattle's building department notes the Washington State Department of Health may require a transient accommodation license, depending on the property.
- Stays of 30 nights or more aren't short-term rentals under the city's definition, so this license doesn't cover them. They follow Seattle's regular rental rules.
With Host Haven
Licensing is step one of our onboarding.
The license stays in your name, as the city requires. We walk you through each form, and once you're licensed we put the number on every listing we manage for you. Then we take it from there: pricing, guests, cleaning, repairs and your monthly statement.
See every onboarding step, or read what an Airbnb co-host does in Seattle.
Not sure your home qualifies? Ask us on a free consultation.
Questions
Seattle STR licensing, answered.
Do I need a license to host on Airbnb in Seattle?
Yes, for stays of fewer than 30 consecutive nights. You need a City of Seattle business license tax certificate and a short-term rental operator license, and the license number must appear on every listing.
How many short-term rentals can I have in Seattle?
Most operators may run two units: their primary residence and one secondary unit. Units legally operating before September 2017 have limited exceptions. Rented rooms without their own kitchen and bathroom don't count toward the two.
Can my property manager or co-host hold the license?
No. The city lets you hire a property management company to list and manage the rental, but the license must be in the owner's name.
Do I need RRIO registration?
If the unit is not your primary residence, yes: the city requires dedicated short-term rental units, including backyard cottages and other ADUs, to be registered under RRIO. A primary residence only has to meet basic habitability standards.
How often do I renew?
Every 12 months. The city emails a reminder, and you renew through the Seattle Services Portal.
Who collects lodging taxes on Airbnb bookings?
Airbnb's help center says Airbnb collects and remits Washington state and local taxes on bookings made through Airbnb, paid by the guest. Bookings on other channels can work differently.
Sources
Official pages.
- City of Seattle: Short-Term Rentals: licensing, limits, renters and legacy units
- Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections: Short-Term Rentals: code questions (definition, where STRs are allowed, RRIO)
- Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections: Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO)
- City of Seattle help center: About legacy zones (units operating before Sept. 30, 2017)
- FileLocal Washington: Business license tax certificate (FileLocal)
- Airbnb Help Center: Seattle, WA: rules for hosts
Rules checked against seattle.gov on October 4, 2026
Questions about your own situation go to the city's short-term rental team: STR@seattle.gov or (206) 386-1267. This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. See the city's short-term rental page for the current rules.