Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Yakima County, WA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Yakima County, WA, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted only in zoning districts that allow residential dwellings, but are subject to county approval and limits: the dwelling must be a legally established residence; no more than five short-term rental units are allowed per parcel; maximum occupancy is set by International Building Code standards; one off-street parking space per guest unit and signage must comply with YCC 19.20. Business licenses and applicable taxes are required. 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 only in zoning districts that allow residential dwellings, but are subject to county approval and limits: the dwelling must be a legally established residence; no more than five short-term rental units are allowed per parcel; maximum occupancy is set by International Building Code standards; one off-street parking space per guest unit and signage must comply with YCC 19.20. Business licenses and applicable taxes are required.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Yakima County. 1) Complete and submit a Short-Term Rental conditional use permit application (Short Term Rentals Application Packet) to Yakima County Planning via the county Forms & Applications page or the Citizens Access Portal. 2) Demonstrate compliance with approval criteria (IBC-based occupancy, required off-street parking per YCC 19.22, signage per YCC 19.20). 3) Submit required Building & Fire Safety (FLS) materials (detailed floor plan, smoke/CO alarm locations, etc.), pay the stated FLS application fee ($178), and undergo annual FLS inspection as required.

1) Complete and submit a Short-Term Rental conditional use permit application (Short Term Rentals Application Packet) to Yakima County Planning via the county Forms & Applications page or the Citizens Access Portal. 2) Demonstrate compliance with approval criteria (IBC-based occupancy, required off-street parking per YCC 19.22, signage per YCC 19.20). 3) Submit required Building & Fire Safety (FLS) materials (detailed floor plan, smoke/CO alarm locations, etc.), pay the stated FLS application fee ($178), and undergo annual FLS inspection as required.

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