Are short-term rentals allowed in Port Townsend, WA?

Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Port Townsend, subject to licensing and regulatory requirements.

Do I need a license to operate a short-term rental in Port Townsend, WA?

Yes, Port Townsend requires an STR license or permit to operate a short-term rental.

How many guests can stay at a short-term rental in Port Townsend?

The maximum occupancy for a short-term rental in Port Townsend is 2 guests.

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Port Townsend, WA STR Regulations 2026 | HostReady

Port Townsend, WA

Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Port Townsend requires a Short Term Rental Conditional Use Permit to operate a short-term rental. Port Townsend sets its own short-term-rental rules. What applies: WA state lodging tax 6.5%; a state-level registration IS required. WA requires STR registration (RCW 64.37). State sales tax 6.5%. $1M liability insurance required by state law.

At a Glance

Monitored for changesVerified from 3 sources

STR License

Yes

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3 verified answers for Port Townsend, each backed by a citation

Are short-term rentals allowed
License required
Occupancy limit

Restrictions & Limits

Max Guests

2 guests

Based on bedrooms

Occupancy Formula

maximum of two adults per bedroom (no limit to the number of children under the age of 18)

Building & Fire Code

The full Port Townsend rulebook

Port Townsend's rules change without warning.

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Port Townsend, WA Regulations Guide

This guide covers everything you need to know about operating a short-term rental in Port Townsend, WA.

Licensing and Permits

Port Townsend requires hosts to obtain an STR license or permit before listing their property on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO.

Get the full Port Townsend compliance guide

Tax rates, platform collection details, occupancy limits, operational requirements, and more.

Compiled from 3 official government sources and continuously monitored for changes. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. STR regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with your local municipality before making investment or operational decisions.

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Curious how Port Townsend compares nationally? See the strictest and most welcoming US cities for short-term rentals.

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Rules with conditions and proven absences

13 cited rules the summary above cannot express as a single value.

How this jurisdiction defines a short-term rental

The threshold that decides whether the rules on this page apply to a booking at all.

Short-term rental is defined here as: short-term basis (less than 30 days in a row) for overnight accommodationsdor.wa.gov

State rules restated locally

Where the local page repeats a state law rather than setting its own rule.

Taxable business activity is presumed when owner hires a property manager to handle the rental of the propertydor.wa.gov
A rental or lease qualifies as exempt real estate rental only if the rental period is one complete month or 30 days or longer; shorter arrangements (including lodging by hotels, rooming houses, motels, trailer camps, and similar establishments) are treated as licenses to use real estate subject to Retailing B&O and retail sales tax.dor.wa.gov
Long-term rentals (30 days or more) are subject to different tax treatment — see Lodging nontransient (long-term) sectiondor.wa.gov
Starting April 1, 2026, renting storage space at self-service storage facilities is no longer an exempt rental of real estate and is subject to B&O tax under the Service and Other Activities classificationdor.wa.gov
Taxable business activity is presumed when owner advertises property availability for overnight accommodations through online marketplaces, newspapers, or other publicationsdor.wa.gov
Sales of lodging by hotels, rooming houses, motels, trailer camps, and similar establishments (including short-term rentals) subject to Retailing B&O and retail sales taxdor.wa.gov
Occupancy for a full month or 30 consecutive days or more is presumed to be a nontaxable lease or rental of real estate, exempting it from Retailing B&O and retail sales taxdor.wa.gov
Lodging and convention and trade center taxes must be paid depending on location of propertydor.wa.gov
Retail sales tax must be collected and paid on rental chargesdor.wa.gov
Licenses to use real property are generally subject to B&O tax under the Service and Other Activities tax classification, with exceptions for lodging and automobile parkingdor.wa.gov
Retailing B&O tax must be paid after taking the small business B&O tax credit, if applicabledor.wa.gov
Taxable business activity is presumed when owner engages in any short-term rental contracts (less than 30 days in a row per consumer)dor.wa.gov

Citation receipts

10 cited facts for Port Townsend

Every fact below is taken from the issuing authority's own text. Open a quote to read it verbatim, or follow the source to read it on their page.

Licensing

3 facts

Short-term rentals allowedYes
dor.wa.gov
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“Property owners who rent out the following places on a short-term basis (less than 30 days in a row) for overnight accommodations may need to register with the department:”
License requiredYes
dor.wa.gov
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“Property owners who rent out the following places on a short-term basis (less than 30 days in a row) for overnight accommodations may need to register with the department:”
What the license is calledShort Term Rental Conditional Use Permit
cityofpt.us
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“A Short Term Rental Conditional Use Permit is required.”

Taxes

1 fact

You must file the tax yourselfYes
dor.wa.gov
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“Property owners must collect and pay retail sales tax on the rental charges. They also need to pay lodging and convention and trade center taxes, depending on the location of the property.”

Limits on how you rent

3 facts

Maximum guests2
cityofpt.us
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“Are the tourist guestrooms set up to accommodate a maximum of two adults per bedroom? (There is no limit to the number of children under the age of 18.)”
How occupancy is countedbedrooms
cityofpt.us
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“Are the tourist guestrooms set up to accommodate a maximum of two adults per bedroom? (There is no limit to the number of children under the age of 18.)”
Occupancy formulamaximum of two adults per bedroom (no limit to the number of children under the age of 18)

What you have to provide

3 facts

Building code inspection requiredYes
cityofpt.us
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“An inspection by a City building and City planning staff member is required as part of the Short Term Rental Conditional Use process.”
Egress window requiredYes
cityofpt.us
checked 1 day ago
›Read the wording
“Does each sleeping room have a window that could be used for emergency escape? Such a window is defined as having 5.7 square feet of openable area; minimum 24" openable height, 20" openable width, and the sill no more than 44" above the finished floor.”
Fire extinguisher required