How to get a short-term rental permit in Olympia, WA (2026)
Olympia requires Short-Term Rental Permit — the fee is $116.42, renewed biennial. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental Permit |
| Permit fee | $116.42 |
| Renewal | Biennial |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. STRs are allowed in the zoning districts specified in OMC Tables 4.01, 5.01, and 6.01 -- effectively everywhere residential and commercial uses are permitted, including ADUs, single-family homes, duplexes, tri-plexes, four-plexes, townhouses, and multifamily buildings. STRs are prohibited in Auto Services (AS) and Industrial (I) zones, in dwelling units with income restrictions, and on properties with a Final Certificate of Tax Exemption under OMC 3.57. Max two vacation rental units per parcel containing a single-family home; in multi-unit buildings, one unit or 3% of non-income-restricted units, whichever is greater.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Permit
Submit the Short-Term Rental Permit application to Olympia and pay the $116.42 fee. The $116.42 Short-Term Rental Permit fee (2026 Land Use & Planning Application Fee Schedule, OMC 4.40) applies to vacation rentals only; a 4.1% technology fee is added to all land use fees. Homestays (owner/tenant-occupied) need no land use permit. All STRs also need a City of Olympia general business license endorsement ($30/yr if gross income over $4,000, obtained via the WA Business Licensing Service) and a state business license.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Olympia. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews biennial — 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 Olympia changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch Olympia for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Olympia before applying.