Skagit County Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations

Navigating the World of STRs (Skagit County Edition)

Thinking about running an Airbnb/STR in Skagit County? Rules vary by state, county, and city. This guide summarizes what applies in unincorporated Skagit County and the main cities (Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, and La Conner). Always verify zoning for your exact address before you list. 

First Things First: Washington Statewide Requirements

• What counts as a short-term rental (STR)?
  A lodging use (not a hotel/motel/B&B) where a dwelling or part of it is offered for fewer than 30 consecutive nights. Washington State Legislative Information

• Safety & posting rules (must do):
  Provide a local contact reachable during the stay; keep CO alarms compliant; post the unit’s address, emergency info, escape routes, max occupancy, and your contact info inside the unit. Washington State Legislative Information

• Insurance:
  Keep $1,000,000 primary liability coverage, or use a platform that provides equal or greater primary coverage. Washington State Legislative Information

• State business license (UBI):
  Register with WA Dept. of Revenue if you’ll collect sales tax or your gross income is ≥ $12,000/yr (most STRs hit this). Apply online. Washington Department of Revenue

• Taxes:
  STR operators are responsible for all applicable local/state taxes unless the platform collects/remits on your behalf. (Sales + special lodging taxes may apply by location.) Washington State Legislative InformationWashington Department of Revenue

Quick Look: What’s Allowed Where?

• Anacortes – Short-term rental of dwelling units is not permitted in residential zones (since 2019) and not permitted in mixed-use zones (C, CBD, MMU, CM) per 2024 ordinances. Existing units with a current City business license may continue while licensed; 30+ day rentals are OK. B&Bs (owner on site) remain allowed under their process. anacorteswa.gov+1

• Mount Vernon – No standalone STR ordinance page; the City directs hosts to WA Dept. of Revenue for tax obligations on <30-day rentals. Obtain a City business license and confirm zoning with Development Services before operating. mountvernonwa.gov+1

• Burlington – Requires a City business license (via WA BLS). Confirm use/zoning with Community Development. burlingtonwa.govburlingtonwa.gov

• Sedro-Woolley – Requires a City business license; note: ADUs may not be used as short-term rentals under SWMC 17.100 (ADU chapter). Verify your primary dwelling’s zoning/parking standards. sedro-woolley.govCode Publishing

• La Conner – The Town has been actively discussing STR policy; check status before investing. (Community discussion packet shows proposed definitions and options.) townoflaconner.org

• Unincorporated Skagit County – No stand-alone countywide “STR ordinance.” STR-like lodging is handled through zoning/use tables (e.g., “short-term visitor accommodations” allowed in Master Planned Resorts) and general use standards (e.g., B&B definition). Always confirm if your parcel’s zone allows the intended lodging use. Code Publishing+1

Tip: Some countywide lodging surcharges (Tourism Promotion Area) apply only to large lodging businesses (40+ units)—not typical single-home STRs. Washington Department of Revenue

Deep Dive: Unincorporated Skagit County

How it works
Skagit County regulates land uses by zone. There isn’t a separate “short-term rental” chapter; instead, lodging uses (B&Bs, short-term visitor accommodations in master-planned resorts, tourist uses in rural/commercial zones) appear across Title 14. Check your parcel’s zoning and the relevant use table/standards before you host. Code Publishing+2Code Publishing+2

What to verify with Planning/Health:

• Is the use allowed in your zone (outright vs. special/conditional)? 

• Septic capacity & water for max occupants (especially in rural areas). 

• Building/fire code items (egress, alarms) and posted info (state law). 

City Snapshots

Anacortes (Most Restrictive in Skagit County)

• STRs of dwelling units are not permitted in residential zones; City Council prohibited new STRs in mixed-use zones in 2024.

• Existing, previously licensed STRs can continue only while they maintain a current business license and comply with laws.

• 30+ day rentals are fine; B&Bs (owner-occupied) follow their own permitting path. 

Mount Vernon

• City links hosts to WA DOR guidance for <30-day rentals and tax collection.

• Obtain a City business license and confirm zoning/parking with Development Services. 

Burlington

• Requires a City business license (apply via WA BLS); confirm site-specific zoning with Community Development. 

Sedro-Woolley

• Business license required; ADUs may not be used as STRs (important for house hackers planning to STR an ADU).

La Conner

• Policy conversations are ongoing; check current code or call Planning before buying or converting a unit to STR. 

Your Compliance Checklist (save this)

1. Get your UBI / State business license (most STRs meet DOR’s registration triggers, including ≥ $12,000/yr or collecting sales tax). 

2. Confirm zoning (city or county planning): is your use permitted, conditional, or prohibited? (In Anacortes, STRs of dwellings are prohibited.) 

3. City license (if inside city limits): Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Mount Vernon, and Anacortes all operate via WA BLS/local endorsements.

4. Meet state safety + posting rules (contact, CO alarms, posted plan/occupancy). 

5. Carry $1M liability insurance (or host only through a platform that provides it). 

6. Collect/remit taxes (state sales + any local lodging taxes; platforms may remit on your behalf - verify). 

7. Special notes: In Sedro-Woolley, no STRs in ADUs. In Anacortes, STRs of dwellings are broadly not permitted (see above). 

Tips for Hosts & Investors

• Check the jurisdiction first. An address in “Skagit County” might sit inside a city with stricter rules (e.g., Anacortes).

• Don’t assume ADUs are STR-friendly. Many places limit or ban STR use of ADUs (Sedro-Woolley bans it). 

• Document capacity. Septic/water limits can effectively cap occupancy in rural areas. (Plan to show capacity during permitting.) 

• Build for compliance. Post required info, keep CO alarms current, and maintain the $1M coverage even if your platform also insures. 

Skagit County can be great for STRs but rules vary sharply by city, and Anacortes currently does not allow new STRs of dwelling units. If you want help vetting an address or building a house-hack strategy that stays compliant (and cash flows), reach out - HouseHack Seattle lives for this stuff.