How to get a short-term rental permit in Camas, WA (2026)
Camas requires City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists — the fee is $50, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists |
| Permit fee | $50 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. The Camas zoning code (CMC Title 18, codified through the April 1, 2026 supplement) contains no 'short-term rental' or 'vacation rental' use, definition, or restriction, so whole-home STRs are not zoned against anywhere in the city. The closest regulated uses are 'bed and breakfast inn' (a dwelling where short-term lodging rooms AND meals are provided) — permitted outright in several commercial/mixed-use zones and allowed only as a conditional incidental use in certain residential zones per the CMC 18.07 use tables — and 'hotel' (short-term lodging for a fee up to 30 consecutive nights), confined to commercial zones; a B&B with six or more guest rooms is classified as a hotel. Home-based businesses generally need a home occupation permit (CMC 18.39), but that chapter never mentions lodging or rentals, and the city has not published guidance treating STRs as home occupations.
- 2
Apply for the City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists
Submit the City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists application to Camas and pay the $50 fee. $50 city business license application fee and $50 annual renewal fee (CMC 5.02.060, as increased by Ord. 24-016, Nov. 18, 2024), plus the state Business Licensing Service handling fee (RCW 19.02.075). This is the city's generic business license required of all businesses; Camas has no short-term-rental permit, registration, or inspection program of its own.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Camas. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Camas changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Camas for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Camas before applying.