This chapter provides the requirements and standards under which residential dwelling units may be used for short-term rental use in zones where residential uses are permitted. The regulations are intended to allow for a more efficient use of certain types of residential structures in a manner which keeps them primarily in residential use, and without detracting from neighborhood character. The regulations also provide an alternative form of lodging for visitors who prefer a residential setting.

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 1

1. Short-term rental. A short-term rental means a lodging use, that is not a hotel or motel, in which a residential dwelling unit, or portion thereof, is rented to overnight guests by a short-term rental owner or operator for a fee for fewer than 30 consecutive days. A dwelling unit, or portion thereof, that is used by the same person for 30 or more consecutive days is not a short-term rental.

2. Short-term rental platform. A short-term rental or vacation rental platform (Platform) means a person that provides a means through which an operator may offer a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, for short-term rental use, and from which the person or entity financially benefits. Merely publishing a short-term rental advertisement for accommodations does not make the publisher a short-term rental platform.

3. Resident. An individual or family who resides in the dwelling unit. The resident can be the owner or operator of the short-term rental.

4. Operator. Any person or entity that receives payment for owning or operating a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, as a short-term rental unit.

5. Owner. For the purposes of this chapter, any person or trust, alone or with others, has title or interest in any building, property, dwelling unit, or portion thereof, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, and including any person who as agent, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of an estate has charge, care, or control of any building, dwelling unit, or portion thereof. A person whose sole interest in any building, dwelling unit, or portion thereof is solely that of a lessee under a lease agreement is not considered an owner.

6. Primary residence. A dwelling unit occupied for more than six months each calendar year, as documented by driver’s license, voter registration, utility bills, or other similar evidence.

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 2

1. The regulations of this chapter apply to short-term rentals in all zones where residential uses are permitted.

2. In zones where Retail Sales and Service uses are allowed; limited; or conditional uses, short-term rentals may be regulated as a Retail Sales and Service use if they do not meet the regulations and standards in this chapter.

1. 1. All such applications must complete the Change of Use/Occupancy process to establish a Retail Sales and Service use, as defined in 17C.190.270 SMC, and shall meet all applicable Building Code and Fire Code standards.

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 3

1. Allowed Structure Types.

A short-term rental is allowed only in a conforming residential structure or a residential dwelling unit within a mixed-use building. A short-term rental is an administrative permit.

2. Maximum number of short-term rental units.

3. Maximum short-term rental units are calculated by structure rather than per lot. The maximum number of short-term rental units within residential zones shall not exceed those listed below.

1. 1. One short-term rental is allowed in a detached single-family structure, accessory dwelling unit, or an attached single-family structure. One short-term rental is allowed in one of the units of a duplex.

1. 1. 1. One short-term rental is allowed in both a detached or attached single-family structure and an accessory dwelling unit, subject to the owner occupancy requirements in Section 17C.300.110(B) SMC.

1. 2. All other multifamily or mixed-use buildings are limited to a maximum percentage of short-term rental units dependent on the below requirements:

1. 1. 1. Buildings that are fire sprinklered may have no more than twenty percent (20%) of the total number of residential units as short-term rentals within the building. All calculations will be rounded up to the nearest full unit.

1. 1. 2. Buildings that are not fire sprinklered must comply with current building and fire code regulations.

1. 1. 3. When calculating the maximum number of units results in a fraction, the units allowed are rounded up to the next whole number.

4. Standards.

A variance to the following standards is prohibited.

1. 1. All short-term rentals must comply with the consumer safety and liability insurance requirements as listed in Chapter 64.37 RCW.

1. 2. Bedroom requirements. The City’s Building Official must verify that each bedroom to be rented to overnight guests:

1. 1. 1. Meets the current building code requirements for a sleeping room;

1. 1. 2. Meets current fire code requirements;

1. 1. 3. Common areas, such as but not limited to living rooms, lofts, or closets shall not qualify as sleeping accommodations for the purposes of determining maximum occupancy.

1. 3. Number of residents and guests. The total number of residents and guests occupying a dwelling unit that includes a short-term rental may not exceed any lawful limits on occupant load per square foot or generally applicable health and safety provisions as established by applicable building or fire code, as provided in RCW 35.21.682.

1. 4. Parking. See Spokane Municipal Code Chapter 17C.230 Parking and Loading

1. 5. Advertising. All advertisements for the short-term rental must list short-term rental permit number and is subject to sign requirements of Chapter 17C.240 Signs.

5. Permit Required.

The owner of a short-term rental must obtain a permit. The permit requires the owner to agree to abide by the requirements of this section and to comply with the requirements outlined in Chapter 64.37 RCW.

1. 1. Notification.

1. 1. 1. The owner or operator must prepare a notification letter that:

1. 1. 1. 1. Describes the operation and the number of bedrooms that will be rented to overnight guests; and
            
         2. Includes information on how to contact the owner or operator by phone.

1. 1. 2. Mail or deliver the notification letter to all recognized organizations and owners of property abutting and directly across the street from the short-term rental upon issuance of short-term rental permit.

1. 2. Required information for permit.

1. 1. 1. Completed application form bearing the address of the property, the name, signature, address, and telephone number of the owner and operator if operator is not also an owner and emergency contact.

1. 1. 2. A short-term rental application and permit fee established by SMC 08.02.066.

1. 1. 3. A copy of the owner’s current City of Spokane business license.

1. 1. 4. A copy of the notification letter and a list with the names and addresses of all property owners and organizations that received the letter.

1. 1. 5. A site plan and floor plan.

1. 1. 6. A completed and notarized Life Safety Compliance form.

6. Renewal of and Revoking a Short-Term Rental Permit.

A short-term rental permit must be renewed per the procedures in 08.01 SMC and can be revoked according to the outlined procedures for failure to comply with the regulations of this chapter.

1. 1. A permit may be revoked for activities on site such as nuisances, littering, or public disturbance as listed under Title 10 SMC

1. 2. For revocation of permit the owner or operator receives one warning of violation. Non-compliance or a repeat of non-compliance in a 12 month period shall result in revocation of permit and a civil infraction.

1. 3. When a short-term rental permit has been revoked, a new short-term rental permit will not be issued to the owner at that site for 2 years.

7. Existing Approved Permits and Unit Caps.

Existing approved short-term rental permits, which were active and approved prior to July 1, 2023, shall be allowed to grandfather the short-term rental use subject to the below requirements.

1. 1. The short-term rental permit must be active and approved prior to July 1, 2023.

1. 2. If the permit is not renewed a new short-term rental permit will be required and the unit cap stated in 17C.316.040(B) will be applicable.

1. 3. A grandfathered short-term rental permit may not further expand their short-term rental use beyond what is existing in the approved permit, nor may it expand beyond what would be permitted under 17C.316.040.

Date Passed: Monday, July 14, 2025

Effective Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025

ORD C36702 Section 48

1. Allowed Structure Types.

A short-term rental is allowed only in a conforming residential structure or a residential dwelling unit within a mixed-use building. All other structures must complete the Change of Use/Occupancy process to establish a Retail Sales and Service use, as defined in 17C.190.270 SMC.

2. Maximum number of short-term rental units.

Maximum short-term rental units are calculated by structure rather than per lot.

1. One short-term rental is allowed in a detached single-family structure, accessory dwelling unit, or an attached single-family structure. One short-term rental is allowed in one of the units of a duplex.

1. 1. 1. One short-term rental is allowed in both a detached or attached single-family structure and an accessory dwelling unit, subject to the owner occupancy requirements in Section 17C.300.110(B) SMC.

2. All other multifamily or mixed-use buildings are limited to a maximum percentage of short-term rental units dependent on the below requirements:

1. 1. 1. Buildings that are fire sprinklered may have no more than thirty percent (30%) of the total number of residential units as short-term rentals within the building. All calculations will be rounded up to the nearest full unit.

1. 1. 2. Buildings that are not fire sprinklered must go through the Change of Use/Occupancy process to establish a Retail Sales and Service use, as defined in 17C.190.270 SMC.

1. 1. 3. When calculating the maximum number of units results in a fraction, the units allowed are rounded up to the next whole number.

3. Standards.

1. 1. All short-term rentals must comply with the consumer safety and liability insurance requirements as listed in Chapter 64.37 RCW.

1. 2. Bedroom requirements. The City’s Building Official must verify that each bedroom to be rented to overnight guests:

1. 1. 1. Meets the current building code requirements for a sleeping room

1. 1. 2. Meets current fire code requirements;

1. 1. 3. Common areas, such as but not limited to living rooms, lofts, or closets shall not qualify as sleeping accommodations for the purposes of determining maximum occupancy.

1. 3. Number of residents and guests. The total number of residents and guests occupying a dwelling unit that includes a short-term rental may not exceed any lawful limits on occupant load per square foot or generally applicable health and safety provisions as established by applicable building or fire code, as provided in RCW 35.21.682.

1. 4. Parking. See Spokane Municipal Code Chapter 17C.230 Parking and Loading.

1. 5. Advertising. All advertising for the short-term rental must include short-term rental permit number and is subject to sign requirements of Chapter 17C.240 Signs.

4. Permit Required.

The owner or operator of a short-term rental must obtain a permit. The permit requires the owner and operator to agree to abide by the requirements of this section and to comply with the requirements outlined in Chapter 64.37 RCW.

1. 1. Required information for permit.

1. 1. 1. Completed application form bearing the address of the property, the name, signature, address, and telephone number of the owner and operator if operator is not also an owner, and an emergency contact.

1. 1. 2. A short-term rental application and permit fee established by SMC 08.02.066.

1. 1. 3. A copy of the owner’s current City of Spokane business license.

1. 1. 4. A site plan and floor plan.

1. 1. 5. A completed and notarized Life Safety Compliance form.

5. Renewal of and Revoking a Short-Term Rental Permit.

A short-term rental permit must be renewed per the procedures in Chapter 08.01 SMC and can be revoked according to the outlined procedures for failure to comply with the regulations of this chapter.

1. 1. A permit may be revoked for activities on site such as nuisances, littering, or public disturbance as listed under Title 10 SMC.

1. 2. For revocation of permit the owner or operator receives one warning of violation. Non-compliance or a repeat of non-compliance in a 12-month period shall result in revocation of permit and a civil infraction.

When a short-term rental permit has been revoked, a new short-term rental permit will not be issued to the owner at that site for 2 years.

Date Passed: Monday, July 14, 2025

Effective Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025

ORD C36702 Section 49

The City may inspect short-term rentals for compliance with Fire and Building code requirements and that the Life Safety Compliance form is accurately completed

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 6

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the safety and welfare of the general public and not to create or designate any particular class of persons who will or should be specially protected by its terms. Nothing contained in this chapter is intended, nor shall be construed, to create any liability on the part of the City or its employees for any injury or damage resulting from the failure of a short-term rental owner or operator, inspector, or other individual to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or by reason or in consequence of any act or omission in connection with the implementation or enforcement of this chapter on the part of the City or its employees. By enacting and undertaking to enforce this chapter, neither the City, its agents or employees, nor the City Council warrant or guarantee the safety, fitness or suitability of any dwelling in the city or any unit inspected under this program. Short-term rental owners, operators, and occupants shall take whatever steps they deem appropriate to protect their interest, health, safety and welfare. Nothing contained in this chapter is intended to create a private right of action.

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 9

Bed and Breakfasts with a Conditional Use Permit. Bed and breakfast facilities operating under an approved conditional use permit may chose to operate under Chapter 17C.315 SMC or this Chapter.

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 7

The City shall be authorized to waive a portion of the permitting fees associated with use of property as a short term rental for those properties lawfully and continuously permitted as short term rental as of September 1, 2023. Upon application, the waiver could include a credit equivalent to the amount of the annual permit fees actually paid for the previous 3 years by the property owner or operator. The credit would be applied towards the future annual permitting fees. In no event, shall the credit be transferrable or result in a refund.

Date Passed: Monday, July 10, 2023

Effective Date: Friday, September 1, 2023

ORD C36391 Section 8