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

Spokane, WA does not currently permit short-term rentals (STRs) under its regulations. Hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms without proper authorization can result in significant fines and legal action. Contact the City of Spokane Planning Department at (509) 625-6300 for the most current information, as STR regulations change frequently and new permitting programs may be under consideration.

Statewide Preemption

Registration Requirements

No city registration is required to operate a short-term rental in Spokane. However, applicable hotel and occupancy taxes must still be collected and remitted. Many platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) automatically collect and remit local hotel occupancy taxes on behalf of hosts — verify with your platform whether this applies to your listings. Deed restrictions in your neighborhood may separately prohibit short-term rentals regardless of city rules.

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