Permitted, with conditions
| Application fee | not verified |
| STR permit / registration annual | $75.00 |
| Business licence annual | $73.00 |
| Inspection one-time | $241.50 |
| First-year total | $389.50 |
| Permit renewal annual | $75.00 |
| Business licence annual | $73.00 |
| Recurring annual | $148.00 |
Combined lodging tax: not verified for this city yet.
1 figure is not yet verified against the city (Application fee). They are left out of the total rather than counted as zero, so the real first-year cost is higher than shown.
Conditions attached
- No citywide cap on number of permits found. Per-operator limit: most operators may operate up to two dwelling units they own; if two, one must be the operator's primary residence (limited exceptions for units legally operating before Sept. 30, 2017).
- Operator needs BOTH a Seattle business license tax certificate and an STR regulatory license (paid via Seattle Services Portal); BLTC must be current before applying. Operator must own the unit; renters may not get an STR operator license except Downtown Urban Core units operating as STRs before Sept. 30, 2017. Owner-occupancy is not required for the second unit, but one of two units must be the operator's primary residence. A dedicated STR unit that is not the primary residence (whole-home, non-owner-occupied, including an ADU on the same property) must be registered under the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO) before applying: registration is $126 per property for 2 years plus $31.50 per additional unit, and the RRIO inspection fee shown in inspection_fee applies (or a $63 filing fee if a private inspector is used). Primary-residence STRs do not need RRIO registration or inspection. Must post the license number (STR-OPLI-##-######) on every listing, post basic safety information and a local contact number for guests, and meet building, safety and Land Use Code (SMC 23.42.060) zoning limits; STRs are prohibited in RVs, tents, garages, boats, live-work units, caretaker's quarters and houseboats. Operating without a license: $500 first penalty, $1,000 after.
- Liability cover of at least $1,000,000.00 required.
Source: https://www.seattle.gov/business-regulations/short-term-rentals
Checked 2026-09-23 · Ordinance 125490 (SMC Chapter 6.600, Short-Term Rentals; Land Use Code SMC 23.42.060; fees in Director's Rule STR-5)