Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Spokane, WA (2026)

Spokane, WA allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental License) before listing their property. Spokane regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Spokane.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental License. Registration fee: $150. Annual renewal: $150 annually. Register through the City of Spokane Building Services or City of Spokane Planning Department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Spokane: 1. STR license required for all rentals of 30 days or fewer 2. License number must be displayed in all listings 3. Maximum occupancy rules apply 4. Must comply with Spokane noise ordinance 5. 24-hour contact required for guest issues 6. Safety equipment required: smoke detectors, CO detectors 7. Washington State Hotel-Motel Tax and local lodging tax applies 8. Spokane's STR market benefits from regional tourism (outdoor recreation, Gonzaga basketball, conventions)

• •STR license required for all rentals of 30 days or fewer
• •License number must be displayed in all listings
• •Maximum occupancy rules apply
• •Must comply with Spokane noise ordinance
• •24-hour contact required for guest issues
• •Safety equipment required: smoke detectors, CO detectors
• •Washington State Hotel-Motel Tax and local lodging tax applies
• •Spokane's STR market benefits from regional tourism (outdoor recreation, Gonzaga basketball, conventions)

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in Spokane: Airbnb: Airbnb collects Washington State Hotel-Motel Tax and Spokane lodging taxes on qualifying rentals VRBO: VRBO collects applicable taxes. License number required in all listings. Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in Spokane: $500–$1,500 per day for operating without license; $250–$750 per compliance violation; License revocation for repeat violations. Spokane has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$500–$1,500 per day for operating without license
• ⚠$250–$750 per compliance violation
• ⚠License revocation for repeat violations

Frequently Asked Questions