What should Cheney hosts know about cheney total tax (11.1%) includes?

Cheney total tax (11.1%) includes the 2% Hotel/Motel tax and 9.1% combined sales tax.

What zoning rules apply to STRs in Cheney?

R-1 and R-2 residential zones may require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) if the use is classified as a Bed and Breakfast.

What should Cheney hosts know about the city uses the state's?

The city uses the State's Business Licensing Service, so you do not apply at City Hall directly.

Cheney

Moderate

WashingtonUpdated Mar 26, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Cheney regulates short-term rentals primarily through general business licensing and zoning for 'Bed and Breakfast' or 'Transient Lodging' uses rather than a dedicated STR ordinance.

Restriction level

Severity 8

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

To run an Airbnb or VRBO in Cheney, you must obtain a Washington State business license with a Cheney city endorsement. You must also ensure your property is in a zone that allows transient lodging and collect the local 2% hotel/motel tax in addition to state sales tax.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-6 weeks

Max fine$5,000

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Cheney total tax (11.1%) includes the 2% Hotel/Motel tax and 9.1% combined sales tax.
2R-1 and R-2 residential zones may require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) if the use is classified as a Bed and Breakfast.
3The city uses the State's Business Licensing Service, so you do not apply at City Hall directly.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Cheney allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Multi-Family, Condo.
Cheney: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Cheney allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Requires written owner consent to operate a business at the premises.
Cheney: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements9 rules

Cheney STR warning: Cheney total tax (11.1%) includes the 2% Hotel/Motel tax and 9.1% combined sales tax.
Cheney: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Cheney does not require liability insurance for STR hosts, but it is strongly recommended.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Cheney: To run an Airbnb or VRBO in Cheney, you must obtain a Washington State business license with a Cheney city endorsement. You must also ensure your property is in a zone that allows transient lodging and collect the local 2% hotel/motel tax in addition to state sales tax.

Fees & costs1 rule

Cheney charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Washington has a state sales tax of 0.065% that applies to STR rentals.
Cheney charges a Hotel/Motel Tax of 0.02%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit the Washington State Convention and Trade Center tax and local lodging taxes.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Cheney enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Cheney occupancy calculation: Subject to fire code and septic/sewer capacity. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Cheney limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Cheney requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, Adherence to International Building Code standards.

Penalties2 rules

Cheney enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning or $250 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: $1000 fine. Maximum fine: 5000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Cheney: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Cheney: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Cheney exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Cheney: The city uses the State's Business Licensing Service, so you do not apply at City Hall directly.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Cheney

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Apply for Washington State Business License

1 week$19

Documents needed

SSN or ITIN
Business structure information

Official resource

Step 2

Add Cheney City Endorsement

During the state application or as an add-on, select the Cheney City Endorsement to authorize business operations within city limits.

2-3 weeks$50

Documents needed

UBI Number

Official resource

Step 3

Verify Zoning Compliance

Contact the Cheney Planning Department to ensure your property's zone allows 'Bed and Breakfast' or 'Transient Lodging' uses.

1-3 daysFree

Documents needed

Property address
Site plan (if modifications are planned)

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Cheney

Moderate

WashingtonUpdated Mar 26, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Cheney regulates short-term rentals primarily through general business licensing and zoning for 'Bed and Breakfast' or 'Transient Lodging' uses rather than a dedicated STR ordinance.

Restriction level

Severity 8

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$50

Processing time2-6 weeks

Max fine$5,000

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Cheney total tax (11.1%) includes the 2% Hotel/Motel tax and 9.1% combined sales tax.
2R-1 and R-2 residential zones may require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) if the use is classified as a Bed and Breakfast.
3The city uses the State's Business Licensing Service, so you do not apply at City Hall directly.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility4 rules

Cheney allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Multi-Family, Condo.
Cheney: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Cheney allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Requires written owner consent to operate a business at the premises.
Cheney: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements9 rules

Cheney STR warning: Cheney total tax (11.1%) includes the 2% Hotel/Motel tax and 9.1% combined sales tax.
Cheney: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Cheney does not require liability insurance for STR hosts, but it is strongly recommended.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in Cheney: To run an Airbnb or VRBO in Cheney, you must obtain a Washington State business license with a Cheney city endorsement. You must also ensure your property is in a zone that allows transient lodging and collect the local 2% hotel/motel tax in addition to state sales tax.

Fees & costs1 rule

Cheney charges a registration fee of $50 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Washington has a state sales tax of 0.065% that applies to STR rentals.
Cheney charges a Hotel/Motel Tax of 0.02%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Major platforms like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit the Washington State Convention and Trade Center tax and local lodging taxes.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Cheney enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Cheney occupancy calculation: Subject to fire code and septic/sewer capacity. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Cheney limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Cheney requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, Adherence to International Building Code standards.

Penalties2 rules

Cheney enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning or $250 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: $1000 fine. Maximum fine: 5000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Cheney: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Cheney: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Cheney exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Cheney: The city uses the State's Business Licensing Service, so you do not apply at City Hall directly.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Cheney

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Apply for Washington State Business License

1 week$19

Documents needed

SSN or ITIN
Business structure information

Official resource

Step 2

Add Cheney City Endorsement

During the state application or as an add-on, select the Cheney City Endorsement to authorize business operations within city limits.

2-3 weeks$50

Documents needed

UBI Number

Official resource

Step 3

Verify Zoning Compliance

Contact the Cheney Planning Department to ensure your property's zone allows 'Bed and Breakfast' or 'Transient Lodging' uses.

1-3 daysFree

Documents needed

Property address
Site plan (if modifications are planned)

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

3 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Apply for Washington State Business License

Add Cheney City Endorsement

Verify Zoning Compliance

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Cheney?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Cheney?

3Are there rental night limits in Cheney?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Cheney?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

3 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Apply for Washington State Business License

Add Cheney City Endorsement

Verify Zoning Compliance

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Cheney?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Cheney?

3Are there rental night limits in Cheney?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Cheney?

Disclaimer