Ilwaco, Washington Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Short answer: Yes. Ilwaco allows vacation rentals (short‑term rentals) as a primary permitted use in several zoning districts—R‑3, R‑4, R‑5, C‑1, C‑2, and M‑1—subject to city standards. STRs are prohibited in R‑1 and R‑2.

Source: Ilwaco Municipal Code Chapter 15.41

Ilwaco zoning allowances and prohibitions for STRs

Allowed districts: R‑3, R‑4, R‑5, C‑1, C‑2, M‑1.

In C‑1 and C‑2, rentals are allowed behind or above a commercial storefront and not along the ground‑floor front façade.
If an existing residential structure is located within C‑1 or C‑2, the entire structure may be used as a vacation rental.

Prohibited districts: R‑1 and R‑2.

Parking: Except in C‑1, provide one off‑street parking space per bedroom, but no fewer than two spaces total.

Source: Ilwaco Municipal Code §15.41.020

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Ilwaco?

Ilwaco hosts earn a median $38,345/year with $263 ADR and 58% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $64,057+ per year.

See the full Ilwaco market breakdown

How to start an STR in Ilwaco

Confirm zoning eligibility.

Verify the parcel is in an allowed district (R‑3, R‑4, R‑5, C‑1, C‑2, M‑1).
In C‑1/C‑2, confirm eligibility based on storefront or residential‑in‑C‑1/C‑2 provisions.

Prepare for occupancy and safety compliance.

Determine allowable occupancy (see occupancy rules below).
Plan adequate off‑street parking (min two spaces; one per bedroom where required).
Engage the Ilwaco fire marshal for an annual fire safety inspection and follow life‑safety standards (means of egress from all bedrooms, etc.).

Meet utility and posting requirements.

Maintain weekly solid waste collection for all months the unit is used, even if unoccupied (clustered developments may use shared collection).
Provide an operating land‑line telephone in the unit.
Prepare and post the required informational sign and internal documents (see Posting Requirements below).

Obtain business licensing and comply with taxes.

Obtain a city business license per Ilwaco Municipal Code Chapter 5.04.
Register and remit transient occupancy tax (TOT) per Ilwaco Municipal Code Chapter 3.24.
Register for sales and use tax (Chapter 3.16) and business & occupation (B&O) tax (Chapter 3.18).

Coordinate with Pacific County for building, fire/life safety, septic, and road access.

Submit required documents (e.g., accurate floor plan) to the Pacific County Building Division.
Complete an initial and bi‑annual Fire & Life Safety inspection prior to permit issuance and renewal.
Comply with septic constraints (based on two persons per bedroom; do not exceed system capacity).
Meet road/access standards for private lanes and driveways (min 20‑foot horizontal clearance and county road standards).
Ensure density, occupancy, and “local point of contact” compliance if within county‑regulated areas.

Maintain ongoing operations.

Keep the annual fire inspection current and documentation posted.
Provide 24/7 contact information for a local owner/representative who can respond within one hour.
Enforce renter responsibilities and address complaints promptly.

Sources: Ilwaco Municipal Code §§15.41.020, 15.41.030; Pacific County Short‑Term Vacation Rental Policies

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

City of Ilwaco

City business license (Municipal Code Chapter 5.04).
TOT registration and remittance (Municipal Code Chapter 3.24).
Sales and use tax registration (Municipal Code Chapter 3.16).
B&O tax registration (Municipal Code Chapter 3.18).
Annual fire safety inspection by the Ilwaco fire marshal.
Accurate floor plan (bed locations) for egress; posted in the unit.
Informational sign and required postings inside the unit (see Posting Requirements).
Local owner/representative contact information (24/7 availability).

Pacific County

Initial and bi‑annual Fire & Life Safety inspection by the Pacific County Building Division.
Accurate floor plan submitted at application and posted inside the unit.
Road/access compliance for private lanes/driveways (20‑foot clearance; county road standards).
On‑site sewage treatment compliance (Pacific County Board of Health Ordinance No. 3E; two persons per bedroom design flow standard).
Local point of contact (resides within one hour travel time).
Density and parcel limits in R‑1, R‑2, R‑R districts (500‑foot separation; only one STR per parcel).
Public notice procedures for certain approvals.

Posting Requirements (to be displayed inside the unit)

City business license.
STR maximum occupancy.
Location of assigned off‑street parking.
Annual fire safety inspection documentation signed by Ilwaco fire marshal.
Public notices issued by the fire marshal re: fireworks.
24‑hour contact info for property owner or local representative.
Pacific County Emergency Management tsunami evacuation route map.
Operable NOAA weather alert radio.
Renter responsibilities (no trespassing, no littering, no noise disturbance).
Informational sign (as required by ordinance).

Sources: Ilwaco Municipal Code §15.41.030; Pacific County Short‑Term Vacation Rental Policies

Specific regulations (city and county)

City of Ilwaco (Municipal Code Chapter 15.41)

Allowed in R‑3, R‑4, R‑5, C‑1, C‑2, M‑1; prohibited in R‑1 and R‑2.
In C‑1/C‑2: rentals permitted behind/above a storefront; not on ground‑floor front façade; full residential structure use allowed if entirely residential.
Parking: one space per bedroom (except C‑1); minimum two spaces.
Occupancy limits:
- R‑3: Max occupants = 2 + 3 × number of bedrooms.
- R‑4, R‑5, C‑1, C‑2, M‑1: Max occupants = 2 + 2 × number of bedrooms.
Required: weekly solid waste service, land‑line phone, postings, and renter responsibilities.
Violations: $250 per violation; not to exceed $250 per day of violation.

Pacific County (Short‑Term Vacation Rental Policies)

County classifies STRs as Residential Group R‑3 occupancy under the International Building Code.
County occupancy cap: no more than 2 overnight occupants per bedroom plus 2 additional (max 10 occupants total, age 2+); septic design flows based on 2 persons per bedroom.
Local point of contact required; must be able to respond immediately and reside within one hour of the site.
Road/access: minimum 20‑foot horizontal clearance; adhere to Pacific County Road Standards (Resolution No. 99‑089).
Floor plans: required at application; changes require resubmittal; plans posted inside the unit.
Fire & Life Safety: initial and bi‑annual inspections by Pacific County Building Division; prior to permit issuance and license renewal.
Density (R‑1, R‑2, R‑R): 500‑foot separation from any other STR; only one STR per parcel (either accessory or primary residence, not both).
Public notice for approvals: posted 2’×2’ sign at three perimeter locations; written notice to owners within 300 feet.

Citations: Ilwaco Municipal Code Chapter 15.41; Pacific County STR Policy (March 5, 2020 Draft)

Contact information (local authority)

City of Ilwaco (business licensing, municipal code, fire safety, TOT)

Address: PO Box 548, Ilwaco, WA 98624
Location: 120 First Ave N, Ilwaco, WA 98624
Phone: (360) 642‑3145
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ilwaco-wa.gov/

Pacific County Department of Community Development (building, fire/life safety, road access, septic)

South Bend Office: 1216 W Robert Bush Dr, PO Box 68, South Bend, WA 98586 — Phone: (360) 875‑9356 — Fax: (360) 875‑9304
Long Beach Office: 7013 Sandridge Rd, Long Beach, WA 98631 — Phone: (360) 642‑9382 — Fax: (360) 642‑9387
Director: Tim Crose (as listed in the policy document)
Website (general): www.co.pacific.wa.us/dcd/

Source links (for verification)

City of Ilwaco Municipal Code Chapter 15.41 — Vacation Rentals: www.codepublishing.com/WA/Ilwaco/html/Ilwaco15/Ilwaco1541.html
City of Ilwaco — Ordinances & Resolutions (including Ordinance 867): www.ilwaco-wa.gov/ordinances-resolutions/
Pacific County — Short-Term Vacation Rental Policies (2020.03.05 Draft): www.co.pacific.wa.us/dcd/images/PC/2020.03.05%20Draft%20Vac%20Rental%20Policy.pdf
MRSC Insight — 12 Examples of Short-Term Vacation Rental Regulations (includes Ilwaco overview): mrsc.org/stay-informed/mrsc-insight/november-2017/short-term-vacation-rental-sample-regulations

Notes for investors

Always confirm current versions of the Ilwaco Municipal Code and Pacific County policies before filing applications or making capital commitments.
Ilwaco’s ordinance references business licensing, taxes, and fire safety inspection requirements; Pacific County adds building, septic, road access, and density standards. Both must be satisfied when your property lies within Ilwaco city limits and Pacific County’s jurisdictional overlays.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Ilwaco

Ilwaco is a small, working fishing community at the very southwestern tip of Washington state, perched in Pacific County where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. With a population of roughly 900 residents, the town has the feel of a quiet coastal village layered with maritime history, weathered docks, and a compact downtown that caters to visitors heading out onto the Long Beach Peninsula. It is best known as the southern gateway to that long stretch of sand and as a base for exploring the Columbia River bar, one of the most treacherous river entrances in the world. The nearest major city is Portland, Oregon, located about two hours to the southeast, while Seattle sits roughly three hours to the northeast and Astoria, Oregon, is just across the river to the south.

Just a few miles west of town lies Cape Disappointment State Park, one of the most popular outdoor destinations in southwest Washington. The park combines dense coastal forest, dramatic ocean and river views, two historic lighthouses, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which interprets the Corps of Discovery's winter encampment nearby. Visitors come for tidepooling, surfing at Waikiki Beach, hiking the Discovery Trail, and watching ships negotiate the river bar from the overlooks.

Heading north up the peninsula, Long Beach is one of the marquee draws of the region, billed as one of the longest drivable sand beaches in the world. About a 15- to 20-minute drive from Ilwaco, the town of Long Beach offers a boardwalk, kite-flying festivals in summer, souvenir shops, and easy access to the dunes and cranberry bogs of the Long Beach Peninsula. It is the kind of classic, low-key American beach town that draws families, retirees, and storm-watchers in the off-season.

A short drive east along the river brings visitors to Fort Columbia State Park, a former military post with preserved buildings, interpretive trails, and commanding views of the Columbia. It is part of a chain of forts that guarded the river entrance and pairs well with a scenic drive along the lower Columbia. Just across the Astoria-Megler Bridge to the south sits Astoria, Oregon, a historic riverfront city best known for the Columbia River Maritime Museum, its Victorian-era homes climbing the hillside, and the Goonies-filmed waterfront.

Ilwaco's appeal as a short-term-rental base comes from the way it anchors the southern end of an unusually concentrated cluster of coastal experiences. Guests can spend mornings on a quiet fishing dock, afternoons on a windswept Pacific beach, and evenings watching commercial boats work the river, all within minutes of the property. Its distance from the major population centers of the Pacific Northwest keeps it feeling off-the-beaten-path, while the steady drumbeat of regional tourism, lighthouses, Lewis and Clark heritage, and four-season outdoor recreation gives owners a year-round audience rather than a single-season market.