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Aberdeen, WA

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STR Regulations for Aberdeen, Washington

Overview: Are STRs allowed in Aberdeen, WA?

Yes—short-term rentals are allowed in Aberdeen, Washington. Aberdeen requires all residential rental housing—including STRs like Airbnb and VRBO—to participate in the city’s Residential Rental Registration and Inspection Program (RRIP). This is a registration-only requirement (there is no separate city STR permit), and it applies to single-family houses, multi-family units, apartments, condominiums, and room rentals. Exemptions include commercial lodging (hotels/motels), state-licensed facilities such as adult family homes, and housing owned by government groups or housing authorities. Operationally, STRs must also comply with statewide STR laws for taxes, consumer safety, insurance, and platform duties. If you operate outside city limits (in unincorporated Grays Harbor County), you must obtain a separate county STR permit in addition to any state requirements.

Source: Aberdeen RRIP page and municipal code link; WA State RCW 64.37

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Aberdeen?

Aberdeen hosts earn a median $30,263/year with $147 ADR and 68% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $32,824+ per year.

See the full Aberdeen market breakdown

How to start a short-term rental business in Aberdeen

  1. Confirm zoning and jurisdiction
  • Aberdeen city: If your property is within the city, you must register under the city RRIP (no separate city STR permit). No city zoning listing specific to STRs was identified; statewide STR rules and city registration govern operation inside Aberdeen.
  • Unincorporated Grays Harbor County: If your property is outside city limits, you must obtain a county STR permit and comply with the county’s three-step process (site plan review, related permits, and STR permit application). STRs are a permitted use in multiple county zoning districts: G‑1, G‑5, R‑2, R‑3, RR, LQ, and C‑2. Verify your zoning with the county parcel map tool.
  1. Prepare documentation and registration
  • Create an online account in the city’s permits/licensing portal and register each rental unit as soon as a tenant is in place (for STRs, as soon as you have active listings/bookings). Registrations are annual and must be renewed every year.
  • Complete and upload the Rental Unit Information Form (PDF) if you have multiple properties or units. Additional information may be requested.
  • If you cannot register online, contact the Property Maintenance Manager for assistance.
  1. Complete inspections and pay fees
  • Properties are typically inspected every three years. Inspections are $75 for the initial inspection and $150 for the third reinspection.
  • Residential Rental License fees are $50 for the initial unit and $2 for each additional unit. Late registrations accrue a monthly fee.
  1. Operate according to state safety, insurance, and tax requirements
  • Maintain at least $1 million in primary liability insurance (or use a platform that provides equal/greater coverage).
  • Post required consumer safety information inside each STR unit.
  • Remit all applicable state/local taxes (sales, lodging, occupancy) unless your platform remits them on your behalf.
  1. Renewal and updates
  • Renew annually through the portal at least 30 days before expiration.
  • Update license holder contact information and registered properties whenever changes occur.

Source: Aberdeen RRIP portal and RRIP page; county STR page; WA RCW 64.37

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

  • City of Aberdeen

    • Residential Rental Business License Registration (required annually for all residential rentals, including STRs).
    • Rental Unit Information Form (PDF) for multiple properties/units.
    • Online portal registration; annual renewal.
    • Inspection requirements: initial inspection ($75) and third reinspection ($150); inspections typically every three years.
    • License fees: $50 for the initial unit and $2 for each additional unit; late registrations accrue monthly fees.
    • Reference code: AMC 15.10 (Property Maintenance and Rental Registration and Inspection).

  • Grays Harbor County (unincorporated properties)

    • Short-Term Rental Permit (annual).
    • Three-step application process:
      • Step 1: Site Plan Review Application.
      • Step 2: Related Permits and Approvals (as identified in Step 1).
      • Step 3: Short-Term Rental Permit Application (annual renewal, reapply at least 30 days prior to expiration).
    • Permitted zoning districts: G‑1, G‑5, R‑2, R‑3, RR, LQ, C‑2.
    • Submit through the county portal; use the STR submittal checklist and helpful resources (site plans, floor plan example, property management plan example, tsunami preparedness materials).

  • State of Washington (applies statewide)

    • Definitions, taxes, consumer safety, platform duties, and liability insurance under RCW 64.37.
    • Safety postings required in the STR unit (address, emergency contact, fire exits/escape routes, max occupancy, operator contact).
    • Liability insurance: $1 million minimum primary coverage or platform-provided equal/greater coverage.
    • Taxes: Remit sales, lodging, occupancy and related taxes unless the platform does so on your behalf.
    • Building/safety: Compliance with state building code council rules on carbon monoxide alarms (RCW 19.27.530 referenced in RCW 64.37.030).

Sources: Aberdeen RRIP pages and fee schedule; county STR page and Municode 17.60.020; WA RCW 64.37

Specific regulations for STRs (City, County, and State)

  • City of Aberdeen

    • Residential Rental Registration and Inspection Program applies to all residential rentals, including short-term rentals.
    • Annual registration; late registrations accrue monthly fees.
    • Inspections typically every three years; required fee schedule applies.
    • No separate city STR permit or city-level zoning constraints specific to STRs were identified; registration fulfills local compliance within the city.

  • Grays Harbor County (unincorporated areas)

    • STRs are a permitted use with an STR permit in specified zoning districts: G‑1, G‑5, R‑2, R‑3, RR, LQ, C‑2.
    • Three-step permitting process: site plan review, related permits/approvals, and STR permit application.
    • Annual renewal at least 30 days before expiration.
    • STRs approved with a Conditional Use Permit or as part of a Planned Unit Development prior to March 22, 2022 (Ordinance 469) do not require an STR permit. Contact the county for details.

  • State of Washington

    • RCW 64.37 governs short-term rentals statewide.
      • Taxes: Operators must remit all applicable local/state/federal taxes unless the platform does so.
      • Consumer Safety: Provide contact information to guests during their stay; comply with carbon monoxide alarm requirements; post safety information inside the unit.
      • Platform Duties: Platforms must register with the Department of Revenue; inform operators of tax and safety responsibilities; provide notice that personal insurance may not cover STR use.
      • Liability Insurance: Maintain at least $1 million in primary liability insurance or use a platform that provides equal/greater coverage.
      • Exemptions: Certain owner-occupied scenarios, longer-term stays (30+ consecutive nights), and properties operated by charitable organizations are excluded from the definition of “short-term rental.”

Sources: Aberdeen RRIP and municipal code reference; county STR page and Municode; WA RCW 64.37

Contact information (local authority in charge of STRs/rental registration)

  • Aberdeen Property Maintenance Division / Rental Registration

    • Lindy Dansare, Building Inspector 1
    • Online registration/renewal: Aberdeen SmartGov portal
    • City Hall (general inquiries)
      • Address: 200 E Market, Aberdeen, WA 98520
      • Phone: 360‑533‑4100
      • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

  • Grays Harbor County Planning Division (STR permits for unincorporated areas)

    • Phone: 360‑249‑4212
    • Portal for applications and documents: Grays Harbor SmartGov
    • Report a concern: 360‑227‑5030

Sources: Aberdeen RRIP “Contact Us” section; county STR page

Links to source pages

Notes:

  • Within the City of Aberdeen, there is no separate city-level STR permit or dedicated city zoning list for STRs; registration under the city’s RRIP is the primary local requirement.
  • Properties in unincorporated Grays Harbor County require a county STR permit and must be located in a zoning district where STRs are allowed.

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Aberdeen

Market Saturation Score

036912
Mild Saturation
2/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
View Full Aberdeen Market Analysis

Photos of Aberdeen

Overview of Aberdeen

Aberdeen sits in Grays Harbor County on the central Washington coast, at the confluence of the Chehalis and Wishkah Rivers, with a population of roughly 17,000 residents. Once a booming timber and fishing port, the city carries a working-class character tempered by its rain-swept, river-town geography and its enduring connection to Pacific Northwest grunge music. Best known as the hometown of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, Aberdeen also serves as a practical gateway to the Washington coast, the Grays Harbor estuary, and the southwestern reaches of the Olympic Peninsula. It lies about 100 miles west-southwest of Seattle, roughly a two-hour drive, and is closer to Olympia, the state capital, which sits about an hour to the east.

A short walk from downtown leads to the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, a small green space beneath the Young Street Bridge that draws fans from around the world. The park, just a few minutes from most parts of town, includes a guitar-bearing statue of the late musician and remains a quiet pilgrimage site for those tracing grunge history through the Pacific Northwest.

Just west of Aberdeen, the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge offers boardwalks and viewing platforms over tidal flats that attract migrating shorebirds throughout much of the year. The refuge is roughly a fifteen- to twenty-minute drive from downtown and serves as a peaceful counterpoint to the area's larger coastal attractions.

The twin destinations of Ocean Shores and Westport, both about a thirty-minute drive from Aberdeen, anchor the area's beach-going appeal. Ocean Shores offers miles of drivable sand and resort-style amenities, while Westport operates as a deep-water fishing port with a busy charter fleet and a popular surf break. Together they make the nearby coast a year-round draw.

Heading northeast from the city opens access to the southwestern corner of Olympic National Park, including the Lake Quinault area with its old-growth rain forest and tranquil lakeshore. Most points in this part of the park sit within roughly an hour to ninety minutes of Aberdeen, giving visitors easy access to one of the most distinctive ecosystems in the lower 48.

Aberdeen's combination of small-city affordability, easy access to the Pacific coast, and proximity to both the Seattle metro area and Olympic National Park makes it a flexible base for short-term rental guests. Visitors can pair a few nights in a quiet, walkable town with day trips to the beach, the rainforest, and the wildlife refuge, returning each evening to a community with its own distinct cultural identity and waterfront character.

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