Overview: Are STRs allowed in Hansville, WA?

• Yes, short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed to operate in unincorporated Kitsap County, including the Hansville area. As of 2019, Kitsap County adopted a vacation rental code requiring a conditional use permit (CUP) for STRs, but county commissioners deferred enforcement except for health/safety issues, citing the code as overly broad and burdensome. The county launched a public policy process to develop updated rules. Until new rules are adopted, STRs in unincorporated Kitsap can operate without a local CUP/permit, but they must comply with Washington State STR laws and Kitsap County lodging tax requirements. Source: Kitsap County Board of Commissioners’ STR project page.

How to start a short-term rental business in this market

• Confirm property details
  • Verify the zoning classification of your property using Kitsap County zoning maps/records (Hansville is unincorporated; zoning and land use rules apply). Reference: Kitsap County Code Chapter 17.410.
  • Check any covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) or homeowners’ association rules that may restrict STR activity.
  • Confirm your septic/well capacity and any health-related constraints if applicable.
• Select the STR structure and prepare the property
  • Examples include an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at your primary residence, a detached single-family home, or a room/secondary suite. Per county survey data (2019), hosts commonly operate rooms/suites/ADUs and detached homes.
  • Ensure the dwelling is safe, legal to occupy, and compliant with state building, fire, and health standards.
• Implement state-mandated consumer safety and operations
  • Post required consumer safety information inside the unit (see State regulations below).
  • Provide 24/7 contact information to guests.
  • Meet carbon monoxide alarm requirements (RCW 19.27.530).
  • Maintain primary liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 or use a platform that provides equal or greater coverage.
  • If you list on platforms (Airbnb/VRBO), ensure platforms are registered and inform you of obligations.
• Tax obligations
  • Register with the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR) to collect/remit lodging taxes.
  • Collect and remit applicable state and local lodging taxes for stays fewer than 30 consecutive days. In Kitsap County, this includes 2% Washington State lodging tax and an additional 2% Kitsap County special excise tax (total 4%). Source: Kitsap County 2019 survey summary and DOR guidance.
• Operations and compliance
  • Establish guest communication, quiet hours, occupancy limits, and house rules aligned with state safety postings.
  • Monitor noise, parking, shoreline/beach interactions, and neighbor relations. County survey data identified common disruptions (noise, parking, shoreline intrusions).
  • Track lodging tax remittance and retain records.
• Monitor local rulemaking
  • Subscribe to county updates; county staff indicated future interest-based focus groups and regulatory updates are planned. Source: Kitsap County STR project page.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• State-level requirements (Washington RCW 64.37 – HB 1798)
  • Short-term rental definitions and responsibilities: RCW 64.37.010 and RCW 64.37.020 (tax obligations); RCW 64.37.030 (consumer safety posting requirements); RCW 64.37.040 (platform responsibilities); RCW 64.37.050 (liability insurance minimum $1,000,000).
• County-level compliance
  • Lodging tax registration and remittance: Register with Washington DOR; collect and remit 2% Washington lodging tax + 2% Kitsap County special excise tax (total 4%) for stays <30 consecutive days.
  • Building/fire/health: Comply with state building code and carbon monoxide alarm requirements (RCW 19.27.530).
  • Future county STR permitting: A county CUP process was adopted in 2016 but deferred; updated county rules are being developed. Until adoption, no local STR permit/CUP is currently enforced in unincorporated Kitsap (including Hansville).
• Postings and documentation (required inside unit)
  • STR street address
  • Emergency contact information for police, fire, medical
  • Floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes
  • Maximum occupancy limits
  • Operator or designated contact information
• Business records
  • Guest logs (dates, number of guests)
  • Revenue and lodging tax records
  • Insurance policy or platform coverage documentation
  • House rules and guest communications

Specific regulations for short-term rentals (county and state)

• Washington State (HB 1798 / RCW 64.37)
  • Definitions and exclusions: RCW 64.37.010 (includes exclusions such as owner-occupied where fewer than three rooms are rented at any time; stays of 30+ consecutive nights; and certain charitable housing uses).
  • Taxes: RCW 64.37.020 requires operators to remit all applicable local, state, and federal taxes; platforms may collect/remit on operators’ behalf.
  • Consumer safety: RCW 64.37.030 requires operator contact info during stay; carbon monoxide compliance; conspicuous in-unit postings (address, emergency contacts, fire exits/escape routes, occupancy limits, operator contact).
  • Platforms: RCW 64.37.040 requires platform registration with the Washington DOR; platforms must inform operators of tax and safety responsibilities and provide written notice that personal homeowners’ insurance may not cover STR use.
  • Liability insurance: RCW 64.37.050 requires minimum $1,000,000 primary liability insurance or platform-provided coverage of equal or greater value.
• Kitsap County (unincorporated, including Hansville)
  • Zoning: STRs must align with allowed uses and standards in Kitsap County Code Chapter 17.410. STRs are not listed separately as a permitted/conditional use in current zoning tables (as of the available document), but the county’s STR project page states that, in 2019, STRs could be located in any residential or commercial area of unincorporated Kitsap County.
  • Vacation rental permitting status: A 2016 vacation rental code requiring a CUP was adopted but enforcement was deferred; the county is developing updated rules. Until then, no active county STR permit/CUP requirement is enforced, except for health/safety concerns.
  • Lodging tax: 4% total lodging tax (2% state + 2% county special excise) applies to STRs. Hosts/operators must register with Washington DOR and remit taxes for stays <30 consecutive days.

Local authority contact information for STRs

• Kitsap County STR project (policy development and outreach)
  • Project contact: help@kitsap1.com
  • Phone: 360.337.5777
  • Project page (for updates): www.kitsap.gov/BOC_p/Pages/STR.aspx
• Washington Department of Revenue (lodging tax registration and reporting)
  • Website: dor.wa.gov (use “Find a tax rate” and related lodging tax tools)
  • Phone: 360.705.0515
  • Mailing address: Washington Department of Revenue, PO Box 47478, Olympia, WA 98504-7478
• Note: Individual county staff emails from 2019 survey materials are not included here due to potential changes; use the STR project page and the help@kitsap1.com contact for current staff referrals.

Links to source pages

• Kitsap County STR policy development and public outreach project page: www.kitsap.gov/BOC_p/Pages/STR.aspx
• Washington State STR statutes (RCW 64.37 – HB 1798): app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=64.37
• Washington State lodging tax overview (Department of Revenue): dor.wa.gov/find-taxes-rates/other-taxes/special-hotel-motel-tax
• Kitsap County zoning use tables (Chapter 17.410): dcd.kitsapgov.com/ordnances/2017-06-02-WA-KitsapCounty/Kitsap17/Kitsap17410.html

Practical guidance summary for Hansville investors

• Because Hansville is unincorporated, STRs are governed by state law and Kitsap County’s general rules. There is no currently enforced county-level STR permit/CUP in unincorporated areas as of the county’s 2019 policy posture.
• Strictly implement state safety and insurance requirements and collect/remit the 4% lodging tax.
• Anticipate future county updates; the county has signaled movement toward refined STR regulations and potential interest-based focus groups.
• Maintain strong neighbor relations and operational controls (quiet hours, parking, shoreline respect) to mitigate community impacts.