Kent, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Kent STRs require owner or tenant residency, and Seattle area averaged $193 ADR, 67.2% occupancy, $3,593 revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Kent, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Seattle market area is 67%. average monthly revenue in the Seattle market area is $3,593. average daily rate in the Seattle market area is $193. the top operator in the Seattle market area is Blueground with 508 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Seattle regional market, which includes Kent. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kent.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
As of September 2026, the Seattle area short term rental market that includes Kent averaged an ADR of $193, occupancy of 67.2%, and monthly revenue of $3,593 per listing. Performance figures on this page describe the Seattle area STR market, a shared Puget Sound series that also covers Renton, Issaquah, Bellevue, Redmond, Lynnwood, Everett, and Marysville, rather than Kent alone.
Kent itself is a suburban city of 136,588 residents in King County between Seattle and Tacoma. Lodging demand comes mostly from events at the accesso ShoWare Center, business and industrial travel, and overflow from Sea-Tac Airport rather than classic leisure tourism. Kent Station, Lake Meridian Park, the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, and Pacific Raceways add secondary draws for visitors.
Year over year, the September 2026 reading shows occupancy down 0.8%, ADR up 8.5%, and revenue up 0.3%. Higher nightly rates are almost entirely offsetting slightly softer bookings. The first nine months of 2026 average 65.9% occupancy, a $191 ADR, and $3,477 in monthly revenue, compared with 66.7%, $172, and $3,251 for full year 2025. Since 2022, when occupancy was 72.7% and ADR was $165, occupancy has drifted lower while ADR has climbed. That pattern points to a maturing market where bookings are absorbed more slowly but pricing power has held.
By property type, entire place rentals average $4,073 per month, compared with $3,693 for apartments and $3,573 for houses. Bedroom, channel, and listing type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Kent, so this profile omits them.
For anyone considering Kent specifically, the city’s rules matter as much as the market averages. Kent requires the owner or a non-transient tenant to live at the home at least six months per year, which shapes who can realistically operate here. The regulatory section below covers the details.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 62% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 71% |
| Jun | 79% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 76% |
| Sep | 71% |
| Oct | 64% |
| Nov | 60% |
| Dec | 59% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Kent are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Seattle market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Seattle market as a whole, which includes Kent, so these counts are not Kent-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 508 | 265 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | Evolve | 181 | 4,933 | ★ 4.55 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 151 | 8,263 | ★ 4.47 |
| 4 | Snowball Rentals | 139 | 5,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 5 | Vince | 132 | 12,247 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Kent?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Kent are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 60.7% |
| vrbo | 3.8% |
| both | 35.4% |
Home Value Trends (Kent)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Kent are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Kent — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short term rentals are legal in Kent, but they are treated as a residential use tied to an occupied home. The governing ordinance was adopted November 19, 2019, and no major STR-specific changes were found in the past 24 months.
The defining restriction is residency. The owner or a non-transient tenant must live at the home at least six months per year, which effectively bars purely absentee, full time investor rentals. If the entire home is not rented, no more than three rooms may be offered as short term rentals. Each guest stay is capped at 30 consecutive nights, and stays beyond that fall outside the STR framework. Operating a non-residence property as a dedicated full time STR would require conforming to applicable zoning rather than relying on the residential allowance.
A City of Kent business license is required. The initial fee is $51, and the license renews annually. Hosts must also meet Washington state safety standards.
On taxes, STRs owe Washington’s lodging tax stack. That includes state and local sales tax of roughly 10.1% or more in Kent, the King County Convention and Trade Center lodging tax of 2.8% outside Seattle, and a local special lodging tax of about 1%. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit most of these on behalf of hosts.
Enforcement is rated minimal and is complaint driven, with violation fines generally in the $250 to $500 range. Confirm current requirements with the City of Kent before purchasing or listing a property.
Market Comparison
The Seattle area STR market that includes Kent posted 67.2% occupancy and a $193 all-listings ADR in September 2026.
Segment rates tell a more nuanced story. Entire place listings average $219, professionally managed listings average $239, and luxury listings average $326. The market therefore rewards quality and professional operation, while the average listing sits at $193.
Growth is steady rather than rapid. ADR is up 8.5% year over year, occupancy is down 0.8%, and revenue is up 0.3%. That mix is typical of a market with solid demand and measured supply.
The key difference from many other markets is regulatory. Kent’s six month residency rule limits the pool of investors who can operate here, which can work in favor of compliant hosts. Top operator names are omitted because that data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Kent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kent, Washington
Are short term rentals legal in Kent, WA?
Can I buy an investment property in Kent and rent it full time on Airbnb?
What is the average Airbnb occupancy and ADR around Kent?
When is the best time to host in the Kent area?
How much does a home cost in Kent?
How far in advance do guests book, and how long do they stay?
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