Westport, Washington

Short-term rentals, vacation rental dwellings for stays of 30 days or fewer, are explicitly legal and investor-friendly in Westport under Municipal Code Chapter 17.22, allowed in any zoning district that permits single-family residences. Operators must obtain a Vacation Rental Dwelling permit before operating: a $750 new-application fee and a $250 annual renewal, plus a $150 reinspection fee and $75 resubmission fee where applicable. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on nights per year, so non-resident investors can operate year-round rentals. Only one vacation rental is allowed per parcel, except in mixed-use tourist commercial zones and for condominium dwellings, which are exempt. Operating rules include occupancy limits tied to the International Building Code, parking limits, safety inspections, at least $1 million in liability insurance, mandatory solid-waste and recycling collection, and a designated local representative available 24/7 who can respond to complaints within 30 minutes. Enforcement was strengthened in August 2023, with violations bringing $500 fines, misdemeanor charges, and possible permit suspension or revocation, but in October 2023 the city council rejected proposed density caps (a 3-2 vote) and a six-month moratorium (also 3-2), and cut the application fee back down from a briefly higher $1,500 to $750. Operators must collect a combined 10.9% lodging tax (8.9% sales tax plus a 2% special hotel/motel tax). A late-2023 inventory counted about 165 STRs, 109 in commercial zones and 56 in residential, with residential-zone density around 4%. Enforcement overall is classified as moderate.