Overview and Allowability

Short-term rentals are allowed on Camano Island. However, Camano Island is an unincorporated area of Island County; there is no city-specific STR ordinance. STRs must comply with Island County licensing and zoning requirements and Washington State law (RCW 64.37). Investors must obtain a short-term rental license from Island County and meet county and state safety, insurance, and tax obligations. Before purchasing or licensing, confirm that your property’s zoning permits STR use and that you can satisfy on-site management, parking, septic, and health requirements.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Camano Island

• Verify zoning compliance using Island County’s interactive zoning map to confirm STRs are permitted on the parcel.
• Contact Island County Planning & Community Development for a pre-application consultation (phone, email, or appointment).
• Assemble required documentation (see next section).
• Submit your application electronically (email), by mail, or in person. Plan for inspections and approvals as part of the process.
• Pay required fees per the County’s current fee schedule.
• After license issuance, publish listings and activate hosting, ensuring ongoing compliance.

Submittal channels:

• Email: PlanningDept@islandcountywa.gov (files must be under 7 MB).
• Mail: Planning & Community Development, 1 NE 7th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239.
• In person: Schedule a 60-minute “Land Use Permit submittal appointment.”

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Licensing and registration:

• Island County short-term rental license.
• Island County business license for both the owner and the manager.

Site and property documentation:

• Property owner’s signature.
• STR manager’s signature and contact information.
• Current Island County business license number for the operator and manager.
• 24/7 contact information for a manager who can respond within a 20-minute drive of the property.
• Site plan showing required parking for guests and residents.
• Floor plan showing guest rooms and egress routes.
• Building inspection documentation (within the past 5 years) or a life-safety self-assessment.
• Links to all online listing platforms used for the rental.
• Maximum occupancy limits documentation.
• Application fee (per current Island County fee schedule).

Health approvals (if applicable):

• Island County Health Department approval if food service is provided.
• Island County Health Department approval if the property uses an on-site septic system.

Specific Regulations: County and State

Island County requirements:

• Zoning: STRs must be in a zone that permits the use; confirm via the Island County Geo Map.
• Local contact: A designated manager must be reachable 24/7 and able to respond on-site within 20 minutes.
• Parking: Must be documented in a site plan.
• Inspections: A building inspection within the previous five years or a life-safety self-assessment is required.
• Health approvals: Required for food service and for properties served by septic systems.

Washington State requirements (RCW 64.37):

• Taxes: Operators must remit all applicable local, state, and federal taxes (sales, lodging, occupancy). Platforms may collect and remit taxes on behalf of operators.
• Consumer safety posting (RCW 64.37.030): Post inside each rental unit:
  • Property street address.
  • Emergency contact information (police, fire, medical).
  • Floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes.
  • Maximum occupancy limits.
  • Operator or designated contact information. Operators must also provide 24/7 contact information to guests and maintain carbon monoxide alarms in compliance with the state building code.
• Insurance (RCW 64.37.050): Maintain primary liability insurance with at least $1,000,000 in aggregate coverage per property, or conduct transactions through a platform that provides equal or greater coverage.
• Platform obligations (RCW 64.37.040): Platforms must register with the Washington Department of Revenue, inform operators of tax responsibilities, inform operators of safety requirements, and notify operators that personal insurance may not cover STR activities.

Penalties and Enforcement

• Washington State (RCW 64.37.030): First violation results in a warning letter from the city or county attorney; subsequent violations are a Class 2 civil infraction (up to $500 per violation per day).
• Island County: Operating without a valid license may be declared a public nuisance and may result in civil penalties, license suspension, or revocation; each day of violation may be treated as a separate offense.

Contact Information: Local Authority in Charge of STRs

Island County Planning & Community Development

• Phone: (360) 679-7339
• Camano Island Office: (360) 629-4522
• Email: PlanningDept@islandcountywa.gov
• Mailing address: 1 NE 7th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239
• Physical office locations:
  • Main Office: 1 NE 6th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239
  • Camano Island Office: 121 N East Camano Drive, Camano Island, WA 98282
• Hours: Contact by phone/email or schedule an appointment.

Additional resources:

• Washington State Department of Revenue (for tax registration and platform/operator obligations).
• Island County Health Department (for septic and food service approvals).

Links to Source Pages

• STR Profit Map – Camano Island regulations: www.strprofitmap.com/regulations/WA/camano-island
• Island County Land Use Applications: www.islandcountywa.gov/596/Land-Use-Applications
• Washington State RCW 64.37 – Short-Term Rentals: app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64.37&full=true
• Camano Island Chamber of Commerce STR listings: camanoisland.org/members/business-category/stay/lodging/short-term-rentals/
• Island County IC Geo Map (zoning): icgeomap.islandcountywa.gov/Html5Viewer/Index.html?viewer=ICGeoMap

Always verify current requirements directly with Island County Planning & Community Development before investing or starting operations.