Bellevue, Washington Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Bellevue, WA?

Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Bellevue, WA, but with significant restrictions. Short-term rentals (defined as stays fewer than 30 days) are permitted only in specific circumstances and property types. The city has implemented a tiered regulatory framework that differentiates between entire home rentals and individual room rentals, with the latter having more lenient requirements.

The regulatory environment is particularly restrictive for entire single-family homes, which cannot be used for transient lodging. However, individual room rentals and multifamily units (apartments, condos) may qualify under the city's Short-Term Stay Use provisions, subject to strict limitations on the number of units and registration requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Bellevue?

Bellevue hosts earn a median $39,213/year with $217 ADR and 74% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $56,006+ per year.

See the full Bellevue market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Bellevue

Step 1: Property Assessment and Zoning Verification

Critical First Step: Before acquiring or operating any property as an STR, verify that your intended use complies with Bellevue's Land Use Code. The most restrictive rule is that entire single-family homes or homes with ADUs cannot be used for transient lodging. Your property must fall into one of these permissible categories:

Apartments or condo units in residential districts (R-1 through R-30)
Individual rooms in single-family homes (as boarding house/B&B, owner-occupied)
Units in Planned Unit Developments or multifamily dwelling units

Step 2: Determine Your Business Structure

Owner-Occupied Room Rentals: Maximum 2 rooms, 2 adults per room, requires Home Occupation Permit
Non-Owner-Occupied Room Rentals: Maximum 4 rooms, but not allowed in single-family districts
Multifamily Unit Rentals: Limited to 5 units per building and 20% of total development units

Step 3: File Registration Notice

Submit the Short-Term Stay Use Registration Notice to the Development Services Department. This registration must include:

Name and address of registrant
Building and development identification
Number of dwelling units used for short-term stays
Compliance with house rules (if applicable to the development)

Step 4: Implementation and Ongoing Compliance

Post house rules in each unit (if universal rules exist in the development)
Maintain registration with the city
Monitor unit limitations (5 units/20% cap for multifamily developments)
Track compliance with owner-occupancy requirements for boarding houses

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Primary Registration Requirements

Short-Term Stay Use Registration Notice
- Form available from Development Services
- Must be filed before operations begin
- Remains in effect until registrant notifies department of cessation
- No specified fee mentioned in official sources
Home Occupation Permit (for boarding houses/B&Bs)
- Required for single-family room rentals
- Application through Development Services
- Only valid for owner-occupied properties
- Maximum 2 rooms for rental

Supporting Documentation

Property ownership verification
Development compliance documentation (for multifamily units)
House rules documentation (if applicable to the development)
Owner-occupancy proof (for boarding house/B&B operations)

Ongoing Compliance Requirements

Registration maintenance with Development Services
House rule posting in all STR units
Unit limitation monitoring (5 units/20% cap for multifamily)
Owner-occupancy maintenance (for boarding house operations)

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City of Bellevue Regulations

Entire Home Rentals

PROHIBITED: Single-family homes and homes with ADUs cannot be used for transient lodging.

PERMITTED: Apartments, condo units, or homes in Planned Unit Developments/multifamily dwelling units in residential districts (R-1 through R-30), subject to:

Short-Term Stay Use Registration Notice filing
Maximum 5 units per building
Maximum 20% of total development units
Compliance with all building, health, and safety standards

Individual Room Rentals

Owner-Occupied Single-Family Homes (Boarding House/B&B):

Must be owner-occupied
Maximum 2 rooms for rental
Maximum 2 adults per room
Home Occupation Permit required
Governed by LUC 20.20.140

Non-Owner-Occupied Single-Family Homes (Rooming House):

Maximum 4 rooms for rental
NOT allowed in single-family land use districts
Governed by LUC 20.20.700

Multifamily Units:

Individual rooms may be used for transient lodging
Subject to same 5-unit/20% limitations as entire unit rentals
Requires Short-Term Stay Use Registration Notice

State of Washington Regulations

Short-term rental operators must also comply with Washington state regulations, particularly:

RCW 64.37 - regulations governing short-term rentals
State tax collection and remittance requirements
Consumer protection regulations
Health and safety standards

Enforcement and Compliance

12-month grace period for existing operations (from ordinance effective date)
3-month compliance period for general requirements
Violations subject to enforcement under LUC 20.40.460 and Bellevue City Code Chapter 1.18
Maximum penalties and ongoing compliance monitoring

Contact Information for Local Authority

Development Services Department - Land Use Division

Primary Contact for STR Registration and Compliance:

Phone: 425-452-4188
Email: landusereview@bellevuewa.gov
Website: bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/development

Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Address:
City of Bellevue
450 110th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004

Additional Contact Information

General City Information:
Phone: 425-452-6800
Email: servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov

ADA and Accessibility Services:
Phone: 425-452-6800 (voice)
Email: servicefirst@bellevuewa.gov
ADA Officer: ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov

Hearing Impaired: 711

Source Pages and Links

Official Bellevue Government Sources

Residential Rental Regulations - Bellevue WA - Primary source for STR regulations
Land Use Code 20.20.800 - Short Term Stay Uses - Legal framework and detailed requirements
Short-Term Stay Registration Form - Required registration document
Accessory Dwelling Units Information - ADU restrictions
Home Occupation Permit Information - Required for boarding houses

State of Washington Sources

RCW 64.37 - Short-Term Rental Regulations - State-level requirements
Washington Department of Revenue - Lodging Tax Guide - Tax obligations

Additional Regulatory References

LUC 20.20.140 - Boarding Houses - Owner-occupied room rental requirements
LUC 20.20.700 - Rooming Houses - Non-owner-occupied room rental restrictions

Important Note for Investors: Bellevue's regulatory environment for short-term rentals is among the more restrictive in the region. The prohibition on entire single-family home rentals significantly limits investment opportunities. Successful STR operations in Bellevue will primarily focus on multifamily units within the 5-unit/20% limitations or carefully structured owner-occupied room rental businesses. Always verify current regulations and engage with city officials before making any property acquisitions or operational changes.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Bellevue

Bellevue sits on the eastern shore of Lake Washington in King County, Washington, just across the water from Seattle. With a population of roughly 155,000, it is the largest city on the "Eastside" and one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. Often described as a polished, business-friendly suburb with a sleek downtown skyline, Bellevue has evolved from a quiet lakeside community into a major commercial and tech hub, frequently ranked among the best places to live in the United States. It serves as a convenient base for visitors exploring the greater Seattle metropolitan area, the Cascade Mountains, and the wine country and farmlands of the Snoqualmie Valley to the east. The city lies only about ten miles east of downtown Seattle, typically a fifteen- to twenty-minute drive (longer in traffic) via Interstate 90 or State Route 520 across the floating Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge.

A natural starting point for visitors is the revitalized Downtown Bellevue district, centered around the Bellevue Collection, a cluster of upscale shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants that has become the city's retail and dining core. Just south of downtown, the 320-acre Mercer Slough Nature Park offers a striking contrast, with boardwalks winding through one of the largest remaining freshwater wetlands along Lake Washington's shore, plus a blueberry farm and an environmental education center roughly five minutes from the city center.

Families and casual visitors are drawn to Kelsey Creek Farm and Park in the northern part of the city, where a small working farm, picnic areas, and easy walking trails provide a relaxed slice of the countryside within city limits. A short drive east into the surrounding hills, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park offers more than 30 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, including connections to the broader Issaquah Alps trail network. For art and culture lovers, the Bellevue Arts Museum anchors the downtown arts scene with rotating exhibitions of craft, design, and contemporary art, while the adjacent Bellevue Botanical Garden, a 53-acre display garden, draws gardeners and strollers year-round.

Bellevue's appeal as a short-term-rental market rests on a rare combination of factors: a clean, modern urban core with strong hotels, dining, and retail; immediate access to Lake Washington parks and Puget Sound; and quick connectivity to both downtown Seattle and the Cascade recreation areas. Travelers who want the convenience of a walkable, business-grade city with the option of a half-day hike, a wine-country drive, or a ferry ride to the San Juan Islands all within easy reach often find Bellevue a more practical and quieter base than Seattle itself.