Kirkland, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Kirkland WA STRs averaged $159/night at 62.6% occupancy in April 2026, with owner-occupancy required under city ordinance and a 120-night annual cap for non-continuously-occupied properties.
Quick Answer: Kirkland, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 72%. average monthly revenue is $4,921. average daily rate is $268. the top operator is Blueground with 506 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Seattle regional market, which includes Kirkland. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kirkland.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kirkland is an upscale lakefront city on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, north of Bellevue and about 15 minutes from Seattle. It draws regional visitors for its downtown waterfront, the largest concentration of public waterfront parks and beaches in the Puget Sound area, marinas, and lakeside dining, plus business travelers tied to Eastside tech employers including Google and Tableau. The city’s resident population is 95,499.
As of April 2026, the all-listings average daily rate was $159.06, with occupancy at 62.6% and RevPAR at $99.59. Average monthly revenue per active listing was $2,689. Year-over-year, occupancy fell 2.56% and ADR grew 0.64%, producing a net revenue decline of 3.44%, which warrants attention alongside the city’s restrictive regulatory framework.
Entire-place listings account for 12,207 of approximately 15,224 total listings (about 80%). Private rooms represent a larger-than-typical share at 2,996 listings, consistent with Kirkland’s owner-occupancy requirement, which encourages hosts to rent rooms in their primary residence. One-bedroom listings lead at 7,885, followed by two-bedroom (3,501), three-bedroom (2,166), four-bedroom (1,007), and five-bedroom or larger (633). Airbnb carries 9,240 listings exclusively, VRBO 589, and 5,395 appear on both platforms. The overall market score is 50.4, with rental demand the standout at 90.6 and investability the weakest at 48.9, reflecting the high home values in this market.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $119 | $1,900 |
| Feb | 62% | $120 | $1,857 |
| Mar | 68% | $132 | $2,379 |
| Apr | 65% | $136 | $2,390 |
| May | 71% | $149 | $2,747 |
| Jun | 79% | $184 | $3,695 |
| Jul | 80% | $178 | $3,826 |
| Aug | 77% | $177 | $3,657 |
| Sep | 71% | $159 | $3,020 |
| Oct | 64% | $142 | $2,570 |
| Nov | 60% | $134 | $2,170 |
| Dec | 59% | $132 | $2,133 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kirkland
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 506 | 271 | ★ 4.35 |
| 2 | Evolve | 179 | 4,907 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 150 | 8,153 | ★ 4.47 |
| 4 | Snowball Rentals | 135 | 5,336 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Vince | 132 | 12,206 | ★ 4.58 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Kirkland?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,885 |
| 2 bed | 3,501 |
| 3 bed | 2,166 |
| 4 bed | 1,007 |
| 5 bed | 633 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $307 |
| Luxury | $466 |
| Professionally Managed | $351 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,907 |
| Entire Place | $5,608 |
| House | $4,985 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 60.7% |
| vrbo | 3.9% |
| both | 35.4% |
Investment Analysis
Kirkland’s investability score of 48.9 out of 100 is the lowest in this batch of five markets, driven by the high cost of entry relative to STR income potential. The typical home value is $1,274,801, with the median sale price at $1,178,333 and median list price at $1,233,333. Properties sell at a 95.5% sale-to-list ratio, and with a median of just 11 days to pending, the Kirkland real estate market moves quickly, leaving limited room for below-ask negotiations.
At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,689, the annualized figure reaches approximately $32,264. Against a typical home value of $1,274,801, the implied gross yield is approximately 2.5%, before management fees and operating costs. This is the lowest gross yield of the five markets in this batch and reflects Kirkland’s status as a high-cost primary-residence and tech-employment hub rather than an STR-optimized market.
Tier comparisons show meaningful differentiation by segment. The all-listings ADR of $159.06 rises to $180.56 for entire-home listings, $187.95 for professionally managed properties, and $280.94 for the luxury tier. Entire-place listings generate $3,024 per month versus $2,701 for apartments, a relatively small gap given the higher ADR for whole-unit bookings.
The revenue growth score of 54.6 and the recent YoY revenue decline of 3.44% both suggest the market is softening. Kirkland is most compelling as an STR market for owner-occupants who can host under the unlimited-nights track while living in the property, rather than for non-resident investors facing the 120-night cap.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Kirkland guests book an average of 34.6 days in advance, about five weeks out. This moderate lead time reflects a mix of Seattle-area weekend travelers, who book closer to their travel date, and business visitors or longer-stay guests who plan further ahead. Operators should maintain premium pricing in the four-to-six-week window and apply yield-management adjustments in the final two weeks.
The average length of stay is 5.13 nights, the longest in this batch of five markets. This is significantly above a standard weekend stay and suggests a meaningful share of week-long summer vacation bookings, corporate relocations, and extended business stays tied to Eastside tech employment. The near-weekly average length of stay reduces guest turnover to approximately five to six times per month at full occupancy, lowering cleaning and operational costs per occupied night.
For operators under the 120-night annual cap, a long average length of stay is particularly beneficial. At 5.13 nights per stay, the 120-night budget allows for approximately 23 bookings per year, enough to concentrate revenue in high-demand summer weeks while staying within the cap. Minimum-stay policies of five to seven nights during peak summer weeks align with the demand profile and maximize revenue per occupied night.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Kirkland regulates short-term rentals under Ordinance O-4607 (October 2017), codified at Kirkland Municipal Code 7.02.300. The framework is built around owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements, making Kirkland unsuitable for non-resident investors without a designated local manager and acceptance of a 120-night annual cap.
There are two permitted paths. First, if the owner or an authorized agent continuously occupies part of the dwelling as their primary residence, the STR is freely permitted with no cap on rental nights. Second, if the owner uses the home as a primary residence for at least 245 days per year, the STR may operate up to 120 nights per year, provided a named property manager is continuously available within 15 miles of the property. No more than two short-term rental agreements may be in effect at the property at any one time.
Licensing requires two steps: a Washington State Department of Revenue business license, followed by a City of Kirkland operating license and short-term rental declaration form. The city STR license fee is approximately $230 per year, structured as a $100 base business license fee plus a $130 regulatory fee. Operators with annual gross receipts under $20,000 may qualify for a reduced $50 fee. First-year operators are typically exempt from the regulatory portion.
Kirkland’s city lodging excise tax rate is 1%. Washington State, King County, and other applicable local taxes also apply to short-term lodging, and hosts must register with Washington DOR to collect and remit. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Non-owner-occupied STR operations violate the ordinance and carry compliance risk.
Market Comparison
Kirkland’s 62.6% occupancy in April 2026 is well above the approximate US short-term rental median of 55%, confirming strong demand despite the restrictive regulatory environment. However, the $159.06 ADR is below the national median of approximately $220, which is notable given Kirkland’s premium housing costs. The gap between high demand and modest ADR reflects a market where many listings are owner-occupied rooms rather than premium whole-unit rentals, and where the regulatory cap limits supply of high-quality entire-place inventory.
The rental demand score of 90.6 is the strongest dimension in Kirkland’s profile, and the second-highest of the five markets in this batch (behind Kingston OK’s 98.9 investability). This confirms that demand is genuine, not seasonal, and that the market’s challenge is primarily regulatory and cost-of-entry, not demand-side.
Blueground leads the managed-listings count with 506 listings and 271 reviews at a 4.35 average rating, reflecting a corporate-housing/extended-stay focus. Evolve manages 179 listings at a 4.54 average, Vacasa 150 at 4.47. Snowball Rentals holds 135 listings with a strong 4.78 average rating across 5,336 reviews. Vince manages 132 listings with 12,206 reviews and a 4.58 average, showing a high-volume, established local presence. The top five collectively manage 1,102 listings against approximately 15,224 in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kirkland, Washington
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What licenses and taxes are required for a Kirkland, WA short-term rental?
What is the 120-night cap in Kirkland, and who does it apply to?
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