Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Chelan, WA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Chelan, WA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted in the City of Chelan subject to the City’s STR licensing ordinance (Ord. 2019-1570) and the City’s Short-Term Rental License program; operators must meet health & safety standards, maintain $1,000,000 liability insurance, comply with parking and occupancy limits, and — if no local property manager is retained — provide proof of residency for a designated responsible party. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are permitted in the City of Chelan subject to the City’s STR licensing ordinance (Ord. 2019-1570) and the City’s Short-Term Rental License program; operators must meet health & safety standards, maintain $1,000,000 liability insurance, comply with parking and occupancy limits, and — if no local property manager is retained — provide proof of residency for a designated responsible party.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Chelan. 1) Create an account in the City’s permitting portal (SmartGov) and submit the STR license application and required documents; 2) Pay the stated fees (initial license fee $600 per unit; annual renewal $300 per unit) and provide required items: proof of insurance ($1,000,000), proof of UBI for excise tax reporting, and proof of residency for the designated responsible party if applicable; 3) Complete required health and safety inspections and any parcel/code compliance review before permit issuance.

1) Create an account in the City’s permitting portal (SmartGov) and submit the STR license application and required documents; 2) Pay the stated fees (initial license fee $600 per unit; annual renewal $300 per unit) and provide required items: proof of insurance ($1,000,000), proof of UBI for excise tax reporting, and proof of residency for the designated responsible party if applicable; 3) Complete required health and safety inspections and any parcel/code compliance review before permit issuance.

Vrbo is permitted in Chelan, WA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Chelan are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Chelan. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.