Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Whatcom County, WA

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Whatcom County, WA. Short-term rentals are permitted wherever single-family dwellings are allowed as the current code does not prohibit them. Proposed regulations that would have added performance standards for parking, occupancy, and registration were not adopted by the County Council. "Airbnb" is a brand name; the rules on this page apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.). See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are permitted wherever single-family dwellings are allowed as the current code does not prohibit them. Proposed regulations that would have added performance standards for parking, occupancy, and registration were not adopted by the County Council.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Whatcom County.

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Whatcom County, WA, since regulations apply to the rental activity rather than the booking platform, and no permit is currently required. Last verified 2026-05-14.

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