STR rules · verified 1mo ago
Short-term rental rules in Chelan County, WA
Chelan County (Wenatchee seat, Lake Chelan + Leavenworth + Manson) regulates short-term rentals in unincorporated areas through Chelan County Code 11.88.290, originally adopted by Resolution 2021-95 on July 27, 2021 and substantially amended in 2025 and February 2026. The code uses a tiered structure (Tier 1 owner-occupied not subject to cap; Tier 2 non-owner-occupied subject to housing-unit cap; Tier 3 high-occupancy with conditional use). Caps are 6% of housing units in most zones, 9% in the Manson UGA. Annual permit fees are $600 Tier 1, $600 Tier 2, $900 Tier 3 (CUP/inspection fees separate). Application window is Sept 1 - Oct 31, with double fees in Nov and triple fees in Dec. Per a 2022 state court ruling, the County rolled back certain transferability restrictions; remaining transferability sunsets after Sept 26, 2026 (permit expires on sale).
What's behind the sign-in
- Registration fees — initial + annual renewal cost, per permit type
- Permit caps + waitlists — exact cap values, current waitlist counts
- Owner-occupancy rules — days/year requirement, permit-class splits
- Zoning carve-outs — which districts allow / disallow STR
- Tax stack — TOT, hotel, county + state layers
- Stay limits — min/max nightly, max nights/year
- Operational requirements — parking, insurance, fire inspection, neighbor notice
- Penalties — per-night fines, revocation thresholds
- City-specific gotchas — HOA carve-outs, pending legislation, recent court rulings
- Refresh on demand — re-run the agentic pipeline against the city's current ordinance
Frequently asked
Are short-term rentals legal in Chelan County, WA?
Chelan County is currently permitted for short-term rentals. Active permits with clear rules and no recent ordinance tightening — stable for new STR investment. For the actual fees, caps, owner-occupancy rules, and city-specific gotchas, sign in.
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Chelan County?
Almost certainly yes — almost every U.S. city now requires a short-term rental permit, vacation rental permit, or transient lodging permit before you can legally list. The specifics for Chelan County (cost, renewal cycle, required documents) are behind sign-in. You can also read the source ordinance directly: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/files/community-development/documents/STR/2025%20STR%20with%20newly%20adopted%20sections.pdf.
What happens if I rent without a permit in Chelan County?
Most cities charge per-night fines (a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per violation), escalating to cease-and-desist letters and platform delisting on repeat. Airbnb and Vrbo now share permit-validation feeds with most major cities, so unpermitted listings get blocked at the platform level. Sign in to see the specific penalty schedule for Chelan County.
How current is this data for Chelan County?
This record was verified 1mo ago against the city's published ordinance (.gov or the city's official municipal-code publisher). Cached cities re-verify on a cadence — daily for cities under active legislation, weekly otherwise. Signed-in users can hit Refresh on any city to force a fresh pull. If you're underwriting a deal, always confirm against the city's code-enforcement office before closing.
Can my HOA or condo association ban STRs even if Chelan County allows them?
Yes. City permits authorize you under municipal law, but your HOA, condo association, or co-op board sets contractual rules that override the city for your unit. Many HOAs adopted blanket STR bans between 2018 and 2024 in response to neighbor complaints. Read the CC&Rs, bylaws, and rental addendums before you buy with an STR plan — the city saying yes does not mean your building says yes.