STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Vancouver, WA (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

Short-term rentals (stays of fewer than 30 consecutive nights) are legal in nearly all Vancouver, WA zoning districts, but every STR must hold a city Short-Term Rental permit (one-time $250 fee) plus City of Vancouver and Washington State business licenses, under an ordinance adopted December 18, 2023 and effective January 17, 2024 as a 24-month pilot. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, per-owner limit, or night cap, but the city caps total active STR permits at 870 citywide (about 1% of housing stock, first-come first-served) and requires $1 million liability insurance. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

✓ Last verified July 12, 2026 · 10 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 10 official sources. How we verify data

Vancouver STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Vancouver
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameShort-Term Rental (STR) Permit
Permit fee$250
RenewalNo renewal required
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~10.9% of gross revenue
InsuranceYes. VMC 20.835.040(D) requires current, valid liability insurance complying with RCW 64.37.050: primary liability coverage of not less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate, or conducting every transaction through a platform (e.g., Airbnb) that provides equal or greater primary liability coverage. Proof of liability insurance must be uploaded with the permit application.
EnforcementEnforcement is largely complaint-driven through the city's Code Compliance hotline (360-487-7810) and online concern form.
Current rules effective2024-01-17

What will guests pay in taxes on a Vancouver stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Vancouver, WA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Vancouver occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
Washington state + local retail sales tax (Vancouver combined rate) (8.9%)· collection varies$40.05
Special hotel/motel (lodging) tax — Vancouver/Clark County (2%)· collection varies$9.00
Total tax (10.9%)$49.05
Guest pays$499.05

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Vancouver requires Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $250.

One-time $250 STR permit application fee added to VMC Table 20.180.060 (Planning Fees). A City of Vancouver business license (reported at $50 by local press) and a Washington State business license/Department of Revenue registration are also required. Permits are non-transferable, do not run with the land, and automatically expire when property ownership changes.

Zoning & location rules

STRs are a 'limited use' in all lower-density residential, higher-density residential, and commercial/mixed-use zoning districts, subject to VMC 20.835. In industrial districts they are allowed only in the OCI and ECX zones and prohibited in IL and IH zones. STRs are permitted only within a legally established dwelling unit — not outdoors, in accessory structures, RVs, or other non-residential structures — and are barred from any building receiving the city's Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) during the exemption period. Citywide, no more than 870 active STR permits may be issued at any time (about 1% of housing stock), approved first-come, first-served.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
Washington state + local retail sales tax (Vancouver combined rate)Combined 6.5% state + local sales tax for Vancouver (location code 0605) per the WA DOR Q3 2026 lodging flyer effective Jul 1–Sep 30, 2026 (total lodging tax rate 10.9% minus the 2% special hotel/motel tax; unchanged from Q2 2026). Airbnb and other marketplace facilitators collect and remit sales and lodging taxes for bookings made through their platforms; hosts must register with DOR and remit on direct bookings, and B&O tax on gross receipts remains the host's own obligation either way.8.9%varies
Special hotel/motel (lodging) tax — Vancouver/Clark CountyApplies to lodging stays under 30 consecutive days; brings Vancouver's total tax on STR lodging to 10.9% per the DOR Q3 2026 lodging rates flyer (Jul 1–Sep 30, 2026; unchanged from Q2). Platforms collect on marketplace bookings; hosts remit on direct bookings. A separate $2.00/night Tourism Promotion Area fee applies only to lodging properties with 40 or more units, so it generally does not apply to STRs.2%varies

Enforcement & penalties

Enforcement is largely complaint-driven through the city's Code Compliance hotline (360-487-7810) and online concern form. Applicants must sign an acknowledgment allowing the city to inspect the premises (per VMC 17.08). The city 'may use one or a combination of the enforcement mechanisms including correction notices, notice of violation and an order to revoke the permit,' and it is unlawful to rent, offer for rent, or advertise a unit as an STR without the permit and license. Existing operators were given until Feb. 15, 2024 to come into compliance when the program launched; the city mailed letters to roughly 425 known STRs. Staff monitor housing-market impacts and report to City Council quarterly during the pilot.

Failure to comply with any VMC 20.835.040 standard 'will result in the revocation of a Short-Term Rental permit,' and violations are subject to the city's general code enforcement provisions in VMC 22.02.020 (correction notices, notices of violation, permit revocation). Specific fine amounts for STR violations were not published on official STR pages.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Vancouver: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: 835. In industrial districts they are allowed only in the OCI and ECX zones and prohibited in IL and IH zones. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit

    Budget $250. 060 (Planning Fees). Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Line up required insurance

    Yes. VMC 20.835.040(D) requires current, valid liability insurance complying with RCW 64.37.050: primary liability coverage of not less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate, or conducting every transaction through a platform (e.g., Airbnb) that provides equal or greater primary liability coverage. Proof of liability insurance must be uploaded with the permit application.

  5. 5

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: Washington state + local retail sales tax (Vancouver combined rate) (8.9%), Special hotel/motel (lodging) tax — Vancouver/Clark County (2%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  6. 6

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    020 (correction notices, notices of violation, permit revocation). Specific fine amounts for STR violations were not published on official STR pages. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.

Recent rule changes in Vancouver

  1. January 17, 2024material

    STR ordinance takes effect; city begins accepting permit applications

    Vancouver's STR ordinance became effective Jan. 17, 2024 (30 days after adoption) and the city began accepting Short-Term Rental permit applications online and in person. Existing operators (about 425 identified STRs were mailed notices) were given a grace period, extended to Feb. 15, 2024, to obtain a business license and STR permit.

    Official source →

  2. December 18, 2023material

    City Council unanimously adopts first STR ordinance (VMC Ch. 20.835) as 24-month pilot

    Council adopted regulations authorizing STRs as a limited use in most zoning districts, requiring a $250 STR permit and city business license, $1M liability insurance per RCW 64.37.050, neighbor notification, an MFTE-building exclusion, and a citywide cap of 870 active permits (about 1% of housing stock). The program was framed as a 24-month pilot with quarterly staff reports to Council on housing-market impacts.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Vancouver?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Vancouver, WA, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Vancouver?

Yes. Vancouver requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit to operate a short-term rental, which costs $250. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a Vancouver short-term rental permit cost?

The Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit costs $250. One-time $250 STR permit application fee added to VMC Table 20.180.060 (Planning Fees). A City of Vancouver business license (reported at $50 by local press) and a Washington State business license/Department of Revenue registration are also required. Permits are non-transferable, do not run with the land, and automatically expire when property ownership changes.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Vancouver?

Yes — Vancouver does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Vancouver?

Hosts in Vancouver are subject to: Washington state + local retail sales tax (Vancouver combined rate) (8.9%), Special hotel/motel (lodging) tax — Vancouver/Clark County (2%) — roughly 10.9% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Do I need insurance to run a short-term rental in Vancouver?

Yes. VMC 20.835.040(D) requires current, valid liability insurance complying with RCW 64.37.050: primary liability coverage of not less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate, or conducting every transaction through a platform (e.g., Airbnb) that provides equal or greater primary liability coverage. Proof of liability insurance must be uploaded with the permit application. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Vancouver?

No — in Vancouver hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Vancouver?

020 (correction notices, notices of violation, permit revocation). Specific fine amounts for STR violations were not published on official STR pages. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.

›When did Vancouver's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on January 17, 2024. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Vancouver changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

Watch Vancouver for changes →

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Sources

This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Vancouver and a qualified professional before operating.

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