Kirkland, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Kirkland requires owner occupancy for STRs, and September 2026 ADR was $193 with 67.2% occupancy and $3,593 revenue.
Quick Answer: Kirkland, 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 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 StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kirkland sits on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, about 15 minutes from Seattle and just north of Bellevue, with a population of 95,499. Short-term rentals are legal but tied to owner occupancy, which shapes who can operate here. Performance figures on this page describe the Greater Seattle area STR market, the regional submarket that includes Kirkland, rather than Kirkland alone. In September 2026 the average daily rate across all listings was $193, occupancy was 67.2%, and the average listing earned $3,593 for the month. Compared with September 2025, occupancy fell 0.8%, ADR rose 8.5%, and revenue was up 0.3%, so rate gains offset softer bookings. Entire-place listings averaged $219 per night, and monthly revenue was $4,073 for entire places, $3,693 for apartments and $3,573 for houses. Annual revenue per listing, summed across the seasonal months, comes to $32,642. The longer record shows a market that peaked in 2021 at 74.2% occupancy and has settled between 65.9% and 68.5% since 2023, while ADR climbed from $164 in 2023 to $191 in the 2026 year to date. Visitors are mostly regional weekend travelers from the Seattle and Eastside area plus business travelers tied to nearby tech employers. The downtown waterfront, Marina Park, Juanita Bay Park and Peter Kirk Park anchor demand, and summer is the peak season, with the Little League Junior Softball World Series held each August. No official annual visitor count is published. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Kirkland, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 62% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 71% |
| Jun | 79% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 76% |
| Sep | 70% |
| Oct | 64% |
| Nov | 60% |
| Dec | 59% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Kirkland 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 Kirkland, so these counts are not Kirkland-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Kirkland 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 | 3.9% |
| both | 35.4% |
Home Value Trends (Kirkland)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Kirkland 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 Kirkland — 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, meaning stays under 30 days, are permitted in Kirkland, but only inside an owner-occupancy and primary-residence framework. The rules come from Ordinance O-4607, adopted in October 2017 and codified at Kirkland Municipal Code 7.02.300. There are two paths. If the owner or an authorized agent continuously occupies part of the home as their primary residence, the rental can operate without a cap on nights. Otherwise the rental is capped at 120 nights per year, and only if the owner lives in the home as a primary residence at least 245 days per year and a designated property manager is available within 15 miles. No more than two short-term rental agreements may be in effect at the property at any one time. Operators need a Washington State Department of Revenue business license and a City of Kirkland business license with a short-term rental operating license and declaration form. The permit costs about $230 and renews annually. The occupancy tax is listed at 1%. Condo and apartment rentals are also governed by HOA or complex rules. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. No major changes were identified in the last 24 months, and the city continues to publish an updated 2025 declaration form. Fees are set annually, so confirm current amounts with the city.
Market Comparison
The Greater Seattle area market posts a September 2026 occupancy of 67.2% and an all-listings ADR of $193, with entire-home ADR at $219 and luxury listings at $326. The pattern is high demand at a moderate average rate. Year over year, ADR is up 8.5% while occupancy is down 0.8%. The main difference from many US markets is regulation: Kirkland ties rentals to owner occupancy, so the supply of investor-owned listings is limited. Operator names and counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Kirkland, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kirkland, Washington
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