Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Vancouver?

Yes. Vancouver requires Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit, and the fee is $250. 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.

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

The Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit fee in Vancouver 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.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Vancouver, WA (2026)

Vancouver requires Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit — the fee is $250. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit
Permit fee	$250
Renewal	No renewal required

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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.
2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit
Submit the Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit application to Vancouver and pay the $250 fee. 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.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Vancouver. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.

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 →

Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime

Keep going

Verified July 12, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Vancouver before applying.

Spot an error? Report an issue