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 in the Seattle market area is 72%. average monthly revenue in the Seattle market area is $4,921. average daily rate in the Seattle market area is $268. 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 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 62% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 71% |
| Jun | 79% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 77% |
| Sep | 71% |
| 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
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
Can a non-owner-occupied investor operate a short-term rental in Kirkland, WA?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Kirkland, WA?
What is the occupancy rate for Kirkland, WA short-term rentals?
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?
How much revenue can a Kirkland short-term rental generate?
Which property management companies operate in Kirkland, WA?
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