Short-Term Rental Regulations
in San Juan County, WA

Airbnb listings are allowed in San Juan County, WA, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are prohibited in Natural/Conservancy shorelines, Agricultural/Forest Resource zones, Shaw and Waldron Islands, and parcels on Town of Friday Harbor water. The County enforces island-specific caps (e.g., 337 for San Juan, 211 for Orcas) and requires all advertisements to display the valid permit number. 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.

Vacation rentals are prohibited in Natural/Conservancy shorelines, Agricultural/Forest Resource zones, Shaw and Waldron Islands, and parcels on Town of Friday Harbor water. The County enforces island-specific caps (e.g., 337 for San Juan, 211 for Orcas) and requires all advertisements to display the valid permit number.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in San Juan County. 1) Submit an application via the San Juan County Online Permit Center or by mail to DCD; 2) Pay fees ($145 online or $160 paper for annual certification; $1,000-$2,300 for initial permits); 3) Provide Rules of Conduct, UBI, and emergency contact info. Fire inspections occur every 2-3 years.

1) Submit an application via the San Juan County Online Permit Center or by mail to DCD; 2) Pay fees ($145 online or $160 paper for annual certification; $1,000-$2,300 for initial permits); 3) Provide Rules of Conduct, UBI, and emergency contact info. Fire inspections occur every 2-3 years.

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