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Owners and operators of short-term rental properties in Lewis County must register with the local government starting in 2026.
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners released an announcement on Monday reminding owners of short-term rental owners to register with the county government starting Jan. 1, 2026.
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners approved the new requirement back in September while also moving forward with the creation of a short-term rental advisory board for the county.
Owners and operators of short-term rentals in Lewis County can register with the county by contacting the Lewis County Department of Community Development or by registering through the department's online permitting portal. To find the portal, visit https://tinyurl.com/2cfv8xsz.
Jan. 1 is not a deadline for permitting but instead a start date of the new requirement. The permit application will not be available until the first of next year.
According to the Lewis County Department of Community Development, there are currently around 450 short-term rental properties in Lewis County. Many of those are located in the eastern portion of the county and provide lodging for those visiting places such as Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the White Pass Ski Area.
The county’s new required operating permit for short-term rentals is one of the first and only major regulations of short-term rentals in the area. In September, the county commissioners also implemented an occupancy limit for short-term rentals for the sake of preventing damage to septic systems.
During the comprehensive plan process, the Lewis County Planning Committee heard proposals for additional regulations including a cap on the total amount of short-term rentals in the county.
New regulations were proposed as a way to address housing supply issues in the eastern part of Lewis County. According to the county, short-term rentals (STRs) can contribute to low housing supply and rising home prices.
“While STRs are important to the local tourism economy, they can also have impacts on housing for local residents,” reads a recent news release from the county. “The new registry will allow Lewis County to better understand the number and distribution of STRs and to evaluate impacts.”
The permitting process was approved by the county for the sake of better understanding the short-term rental property market in the county. However, the board of commissioners did not approve other restrictions originally recommended by the Lewis County Planning Commission.
Public outcry from owners of short-term rentals during a public hearing over the summer urged the county to slow down. Testimony included concerns over the regulations themselves as well as a lack of data to support them.
More information on short-term rental permits and other short-term rental news in Lewis County is available on the Lewis County Department of Community Development website. To find the site, visit https://tinyurl.com/5n7k8c8c.
To ask questions about short-term rentals, contact Lewis County Community Development Director Mindy Brooks at mindy.brooks@lewiscountywa.gov or by calling 360-740-2610.
