Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Lewis County, WA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Lewis County, WA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are allowed countywide but subject to limits in Urban Growth Area – Small Towns and Type I LAMIRDs (e.g., a 25% cap of existing dwelling units). STRs must be legal dwelling units limited to two guests per bedroom plus three additional guests, provide one on-site parking space per bedroom, have approved potable water and sewage, and post a 24-hour local contact. 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 allowed countywide but subject to limits in Urban Growth Area – Small Towns and Type I LAMIRDs (e.g., a 25% cap of existing dwelling units). STRs must be legal dwelling units limited to two guests per bedroom plus three additional guests, provide one on-site parking space per bedroom, have approved potable water and sewage, and post a 24-hour local contact.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Lewis County. 1) Apply through the Lewis County Department of Community Development online portal (co-lewis-wa.smartgovcommunity.com); 2) Demonstrate compliance with standards including building permits/life-safety inspections, working smoke/CO detectors, permitted wastewater systems, and $1,000,000 liability insurance; 3) Pay applicable fees and renew the permit annually.

1) Apply through the Lewis County Department of Community Development online portal (co-lewis-wa.smartgovcommunity.com); 2) Demonstrate compliance with standards including building permits/life-safety inspections, working smoke/CO detectors, permitted wastewater systems, and $1,000,000 liability insurance; 3) Pay applicable fees and renew the permit annually.

Vrbo is permitted in Lewis County, 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 Lewis County 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 Lewis County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.