Spokane Requires STR Permit Before You List: What Hosts Must Do Now

If you are renting out a room, a basement, or an entire home in Spokane for fewer than 30 nights at a time, you need a city permit before your first guest checks in. That is not a suggestion. The City of Spokane has required short-term rental permits since 2015, and amendments that took effect September 1, 2023 tightened who can apply and how. Hosts who skip the permit are operating illegally, and the city began proactive monitoring in January 2024 to find them.

What the Law Actually Covers

Spokane defines a short-term rental as "a rental of all or a portion (e.g. bedroom, basement) of your residential dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 nights." That definition is broad on purpose. It covers spare bedrooms on Airbnb, full-home listings on Vrbo, and everything in between. The governing code is Chapter 17C.316, and both owners and tenants who are permanent residents are eligible to apply, a change that came with the 2023 amendments.

One thing the permit does not do: override your other obligations. The city is explicit on this point. Receiving a short-term rental permit "does not override any lease agreements, homeowners' association bylaws, covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs), or any other agreement, law, or regulations that prohibit subletting or use of your residential structure as a short-term rental." In plain terms, a city permit is necessary but not sufficient. If your lease or HOA bans short-term rentals, the permit does not protect you from eviction or fines from those parties.

The Permit Process and What It Costs

Getting permitted is not a one-page form. Before you can submit an application through the city's Accela online platform, you need a City of Spokane Business License, a completed and notarized Annual Life Safety Compliance Form, proof of liability insurance, a floor plan with room labels, a fire safety plan showing ingress and egress, a site plan with parking, and a notification letter mailed to adjacent property owners. That last requirement means your neighbors will know you are operating before you ever open your door to guests.

The fees depend on your zone:

If you have multiple units in one building, each unit gets its own permit number and its own application fee. The Business License fee is separate and on top of these amounts. Renewal is straightforward: if you stop paying the renewal fee, the permit closes automatically. No formal cancellation needed.

Enforcement Is No Longer Theoretical

For years, Spokane's permit requirement existed mostly on paper. That changed in January 2024, when the city began proactive monitoring and enforcement. Operators found without permits receive a 30-day compliance letter, giving them a window to get legal or shut down. The city is using Granicus software to identify unlisted and unpermitted rentals, which means listings on major platforms are being cross-checked against the permit database.

The practical risk for hosts is real: an unpermitted listing can trigger a compliance notice, and continued operation after that notice escalates the situation. Getting ahead of it now, before a letter arrives, is the lower-cost path.

What Hosts Should Do Right Now

• Check your lease or HOA documents before applying. A city permit does not protect you from private agreements that ban short-term rentals.
• Secure a City of Spokane Business License first. The STR permit application cannot proceed without it.
• Gather your documents: notarized life safety form, liability insurance, floor plan, fire safety plan, site plan, and parking information.
• Prepare your neighbor notification letter with your contact information and a list of all abutting property owners and recognized organizations.
• Submit through the Accela Citizen Access platform under the planning tab.
• Questions? Call the Development Services Center at 509.625.6300.

For the complete Spokane compliance guide including tax calculator, checklist, and daily monitoring, see Spokane, WA STR Regulations.