Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Federal Way, WA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Federal Way, WA, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are allowed in single-family zones if they meet requirements for maximum occupancy, parking, signage, and weekly waste collection. Operators must notify their HOA, provide guest contact info, post emergency/exit info inside the unit, maintain $1M liability insurance, and comply with carbon monoxide alarm regulations. 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.

Vacation rentals are allowed in single-family zones if they meet requirements for maximum occupancy, parking, signage, and weekly waste collection. Operators must notify their HOA, provide guest contact info, post emergency/exit info inside the unit, maintain $1M liability insurance, and comply with carbon monoxide alarm regulations.

Vrbo is permitted in Federal Way, WA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Federal Way 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 Federal Way. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.