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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Washington
  6. ·
  7. Vancouver

Vancouver

Moderate
WashingtonUpdated Mar 15, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 6, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Vancouver requires a one-time $250 short-term rental permit and a city business license for all stays under 30 days, with a city-wide cap of 870 units.

Restriction level

Severity 11
Classification
Moderate
11
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $250
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental in Vancouver, you must get a $50 city business license and a $250 one-time STR permit. You are required to carry $1 million in liability insurance and must mail a notification letter to all adjacent neighbors before applying. Entire homes and ADUs can be rented, but the city has a total limit of 870 permits available.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$250
Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Citywide cap of 870 total units; once reached, new permits may not be issued.
  2. 2MFTE (Multifamily Tax Exemption) buildings are strictly prohibited from hosting STRs.
  3. 3Notification letters must be sent to all neighbors sharing a property line, alleyway, or street front.
  4. 4Pilot program set to be reviewed in 2026 for potential permanent changes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility6 rules
  • Vancouver allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Tenants must have written owner consent and obtain a business license in their own name.
  • Vancouver does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Vancouver: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements12 rules
  • Vancouver requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Permit". Apply through Community Development Department. Processing time: 2-4 weeks.
  • Vancouver requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $1,000,000. Required per RCW 64.37.050 and VMC 20.840
  • Vancouver: Notification letters must be sent to all neighbors sharing a property line, alleyway, or street front.
Application process7 rules
  • Vancouver STR permit - Step 3: Submit STR Permit Application. Submit the online permit application to the Vancouver Community Development Department with required attachments. Required documents: State Business License with city endorsement, Liability Insurance certificate, Affidavit of Mailing, Floor plan. Time: 2-4 weeks. Cost: 250.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Vancouver charges a registration fee of $250 (one_time). Extended/additional fee: $50 (City business license fee is required annually in addition to the permit).
Taxes2 rules
  • Vancouver charges a Special Hotel/Motel Tax of 0.04%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit state sales tax and local lodging taxes directly.
  • Washington has a state sales tax of 0.065% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions4 rules
  • Vancouver enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Vancouver limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Vancouver occupancy calculation: Limited by building code and floor plan capacity. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Vancouver: Citywide cap of 870 total units; once reached, new permits may not be issued.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Vancouver requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Fire safety plan posted at all exits, Interconnected smoke alarms, Interconnected CO detectors.
Penalties2 rules
  • Vancouver enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $200 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: $250. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Vancouver: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions3 rules
  • Vancouver exempts the following from STR regulations: hosted rentals (where host is present), long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Owner-occupied units where owner lives 6+ months/year and rents <3 rooms, Registered charitable organizations providing medical housing.
  • Vancouver: MFTE (Multifamily Tax Exemption) buildings are strictly prohibited from hosting STRs.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Vancouver

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Apply for Washington State Business License

Obtain a state business license through the Department of Revenue (DOR) with a Vancouver city endorsement.

1-2 weeks$50
Documents needed
  • Federal Tax ID or SSN
  • Property Address
Official resource
Step 2

Notify Neighbors

Mail a notification letter to all adjacent/abutting property owners including a description of operations and contact info. Obtain an affidavit of mailing.

1 week$20
Documents needed
  • Mailing labels from Clark County GIS
  • Neighborhood Notification Letter template
Official resource
Step 3

Submit STR Permit Application

Submit the online permit application to the Vancouver Community Development Department with required attachments.

2-4 weeks$250
Documents needed
  • State Business License with city endorsement
  • Liability Insurance certificate
  • Affidavit of Mailing
  • Floor plan
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

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