Bothell business license for short term rentals explained

Last updated 2026-07-26

does bothell require a business license for a short term rental

Yes. The City of Bothell requires a general business license for anyone conducting business activity inside city limits, and short term rental hosting counts as business activity under the city's municipal code framework for business licensing. This isn't a rule written just for Airbnb hosts. It's the same requirement that applies to a contractor, a consultant, or a home bakery operating from a residence. Bothell straddles two counties (King and Snohomish), and the city has worked with the Washington State Department of Revenue's local business licensing service for its general business license processing. That matters practically: your application and renewal often route through the state's centralized system rather than a standalone city portal, though the license itself is a Bothell requirement ^[1]. The important nuance is this: Bothell does not currently publish a distinct 'short term rental license' category the way cities like Seattle or Tacoma do with dedicated STR permit ordinances. That could change. Council packets and municipal code get amended, and short term rental regulation has been a live topic in Washington cities for several years. Confirm with the Bothell business license office or the city's current municipal code before you list a property, because if the city has since adopted a specific STR ordinance, the requirements below will look different. If you're trying to figure out whether your specific setup (owner-occupied duplex, detached ADU, whole-home rental) triggers licensing, call the city planning or business license desk directly. Don't guess based on what a neighboring city requires.

how much does a bothell business license cost

Business license fees in Washington cities that use the state's combined licensing system typically run somewhere in the range of $50 to $125 for the initial license, plus a smaller renewal fee each year, but Bothell's exact current fee schedule needs to be confirmed directly with the city or the state Business Licensing Service portal, since fee schedules get updated and vary by whether you're inside city limits, unincorporated county, or a special jurisdiction. Don't budget based on a guess. Pull the current fee page before you apply, because paying the wrong amount or missing a jurisdiction-specific surcharge is one of the more common reasons applications bounce back for correction. On top of the city fee, expect a state Business License Application fee through the Washington Department of Revenue, plus your regular state and local excise tax obligations once you're operating ^[1]. If your short term rental sits inside a homeowners association, factor in whatever HOA rental restrictions or fees apply too. Those aren't a city requirement, but they can end your rental plans faster than any municipal fine. For budgeting purposes, treat the business license as one line item in a larger startup cost list that includes state lodging tax registration, potential zoning review, smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance, and possibly a fire or life-safety inspection depending on unit type. None of these individually cost a fortune, but they add up, and missing one can delay your first booking by weeks.

do i need to collect and remit lodging tax in washington state

Yes, almost certainly. Washington State imposes retail sales tax and, in many jurisdictions, an additional lodging tax on short term rental stays, and hosts are generally responsible for collecting and remitting it unless a booking platform handles it for them under a marketplace facilitator arrangement. The Washington Department of Revenue is explicit that short term rental operators need a state Business License and must report retail sales tax on lodging charges: "If you rent your property for periods of less than 30 days, you are subject to the same taxes as a hotel or motel" is the practical framework the department uses when explaining lodging tax obligations for short term rentals ^[1]. Some platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo now collect and remit certain state and local taxes automatically in Washington, but that doesn't remove your obligation to register with the state, and it doesn't cover every local tax that might apply depending on where your property sits. Don't assume the platform has it handled. Check your specific tax settings on whatever platform you use, and confirm with the Department of Revenue what, if anything, you still owe to file yourself. This is a common trap for new hosts: they assume 'Airbnb handles taxes' means all taxes, everywhere, automatically. It doesn't.

what is the difference between a long term rental license and a short term rental license

A long term rental license (sometimes called a rental registration or rental housing license) is what many cities require for properties rented on leases of a month or longer, and it usually comes with periodic habitability inspections, a registration fee, and sometimes a cap on how many units one landlord can operate without extra requirements. A short term rental license, where a city has one, typically governs stays under 30 days and comes bundled with different concerns: parking, noise, occupancy limits per bedroom, and sometimes a cap on the total number of STR permits issued citywide or per zoning district. Cities like Seattle require STR operators to hold both a general business license and a specific short term rental operator's license, plus register their unit type (primary residence vs. additional unit) ^[2]. Bothell's current framework, as of this writing, treats short term rental hosting under the umbrella of the general business license rather than a distinct STR category. That's a lighter-touch approach compared to cities that have built out full STR permitting systems. It also means fewer specific protections and clearer rules exist if a neighbor complains about noise or parking, since there's no STR-specific ordinance spelling out enforcement mechanics. Confirm current status with the city, since this is exactly the kind of rule that gets updated as short term rental volume grows in a market.

how do i actually apply for a bothell business license

Start with the Washington State Business Licensing Service, which processes applications for many cities including those that partner with the state for local endorsement processing. You'll typically need your business structure (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.), the property address, and your Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number if you already have one from a prior business ^[3]. Most hosts operating a single short term rental unit apply as a sole proprietor unless they've set up an LLC for liability reasons, which is a separate legal and tax decision worth discussing with an accountant or attorney rather than deciding based on a blog post. Once your state application processes, the city portion (the Bothell-specific endorsement) either gets added automatically through the combined system or requires a separate step, depending on current city arrangements. Call the Bothell business license office directly to confirm the process before you submit anything, because combined licensing systems sometimes route city endorsements differently than county ones, and a wrong selection at application time can cost you weeks in back-and-forth corrections. After approval, mark your renewal date. Washington business licenses typically renew annually, and a lapsed license can mean fines or a forced pause on your listing until you're back in compliance.

what happens if i operate without the required license

Cities that require business licensing generally have enforcement authority to issue civil penalties for operating unlicensed, and repeat violations can escalate. The exact fine schedule for unlicensed business activity in Bothell needs confirmation from the city's municipal code or code enforcement office, since penalty amounts and escalation structures vary and change. Platforms themselves are increasingly part of the enforcement picture too. Some cities require short term rental platforms to verify a valid business or STR license number before letting a host publish a listing, which can shut down an unlicensed host's ability to even list a property, more than expose them to fines after the fact. Beyond city penalties, operating without proper state tax registration exposes you to back taxes, penalties, and interest from the Washington Department of Revenue if the state later determines you should have been remitting lodging tax and weren't. That's often a bigger financial hit than the original license fee would have been. The practical move: get licensed and tax-registered before your first guest checks in, not after a neighbor complaint or a platform audit flags you.

how to become a landlord and what does landlording actually mean

Becoming a landlord starts well before your first tenant or guest, and it applies whether you're renting long term or hosting short stays. At minimum you need a legal right to rent the property (ownership or documented authority, like an LLC operating agreement if you hold title through an entity), compliance with any applicable business licensing in your city, and a working knowledge of the landlord-tenant law that applies to your unit type. Landlording is the ongoing work of managing a rental property: screening or vetting occupants, handling maintenance requests, collecting rent or booking payments, keeping the unit safe and habitable, and staying current on the legal obligations tied to your specific jurisdiction. A landlord, in the plainest definition, is the person or entity that owns or controls a rental property and leases or rents it to another party in exchange for payment. For short term rental hosts specifically, landlording looks different day-to-day than a traditional lease landlord's job. You're not usually dealing with month-to-month tenant rights disputes, but you are handling turnover cleaning, guest communication, and often more frequent maintenance cycles because of higher occupancy churn. If you're weighing whether to add a longer-term unit to your portfolio alongside a short term rental, it helps to understand what is a landlord and the baseline responsibilities that come with the role, since many cities apply overlapping registration and inspection rules to both rental types. If you're new to this entirely, spend real time reading your state's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act before you take your first booking or sign your first lease. Washington's version, RCW 59.18, spells out landlord obligations around habitability, deposits, and notice requirements for standard rentals, and even short term rental hosts benefit from understanding the baseline expectations that state law sets for rental housing generally ^[4].

who is responsible for a rental property walk through inspection in california

In California, the landlord is generally responsible for arranging and documenting a move-in and move-out walk through inspection, and state law gives tenants specific rights around that process for standard residential leases. Under California Civil Code Section 1950.5, a landlord must, upon request, conduct an initial inspection before the tenant moves out (an 'initial inspection') so the tenant has a chance to fix any deficiencies that could otherwise justify a deduction from the security deposit ^[5]. The landlord must give the tenant at least 48 hours' written notice before that pre-move-out inspection, and the tenant has the right to be present. If the landlord finds deductible issues during that walkthrough, they're required to give the tenant an itemized statement of what needs fixing and a chance to address it before move-out, unless the tenant waives that right ^[5]. This California-specific process is separate from Bothell's licensing requirements, obviously, since Bothell is in Washington. But the underlying principle, that a documented walkthrough protects both parties and is generally the landlord's responsibility to schedule and record, applies broadly across states even where the specific statute differs. If you operate rentals in multiple states, don't assume the walkthrough rules are the same. California's are unusually detailed compared to many states.

what rights do tenants have without a signed lease

A tenant without a signed lease still has real legal rights in nearly every state, because a rental relationship can exist through a verbal agreement, a month-to-month arrangement, or simply through the act of accepting rent from an occupant. The absence of a written lease doesn't erase tenant protections; it usually just means the tenancy defaults to whatever your state calls a month-to-month or 'periodic' tenancy. Under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a tenancy without a specified term is generally treated as month-to-month, and landlords still owe habitability obligations and proper notice before ending the tenancy, even without a written lease ^[4]. That means things like heat, water, working locks, and structural safety aren't optional just because nothing got signed. Tenants without leases are still protected against illegal lockouts, utility shutoffs used as eviction tools, and discriminatory treatment under the federal Fair Housing Act, which applies regardless of lease status ^[6]. If you're a landlord in this situation, the safe move is to get something in writing as soon as possible, even a short signed agreement, because verbal-only arrangements create ambiguity that tends to favor the tenant in a dispute since courts often can't verify verbal terms either party claims. For readers researching tenants rights more broadly, the core takeaway is that 'no lease' does not mean 'no rights.' It just shifts which default rules apply.

why do landlords require renters insurance

Landlords require renters insurance mainly to shift liability risk away from themselves and onto the tenant's own policy when something goes wrong inside the unit that isn't the landlord's fault, like a tenant's guest getting injured, a tenant's personal property getting damaged, or a small kitchen fire the tenant caused. A standard landlord insurance policy (sometimes called a dwelling or DP-3 policy) typically covers the building structure and the landlord's own liability, but it generally does not cover a tenant's personal belongings or injuries to the tenant's guests caused by the tenant's own negligence. Renters insurance fills that gap, and it's typically inexpensive, often in the range of $15 to $30 a month depending on coverage level and location, though exact pricing varies by insurer and state. Requiring renters insurance also gives landlords a documented paper trail if a dispute arises over damage or liability, since the tenant's insurer becomes a party with its own claims process and investigation. That can actually reduce friction between landlord and tenant compared to a dispute that's purely a he-said-she-said argument over who owes what. Many states and cities explicitly allow landlords to require renters insurance as a lease condition, though the specific enforceability and notice requirements vary by jurisdiction, so check your local landlord-tenant statute before adding it as a lease term.

how much notice does a landlord have to give before entry or ending a tenancy

Notice requirements vary sharply by state and by the type of notice (entry for repairs, rent increase, or ending a tenancy), so there's no single national answer, but a few reference points are useful. Under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord generally must give at least two days' notice before entering a rental unit for non-emergency purposes like repairs or inspections, and the entry must happen at reasonable times, with limited exceptions for emergencies ^[4]. For ending a month-to-month tenancy, Washington law generally requires 20 days' written notice before the end of the rental period, though local jurisdictions like Seattle have layered on additional 'just cause' eviction protections that go beyond the state minimum ^[7]. Other states set different numbers entirely. California generally requires 24 hours' notice for routine entry under Civil Code Section 1954, and many states require 30, 60, or even 90 days' notice to end a month-to-month tenancy depending on how long the tenant has lived there . Because these numbers change based on state, city ordinance, and even lease length, the only safe approach is to look up your specific state's landlord-tenant statute before serving any notice, rather than relying on a general number from an article covering multiple states. Getting notice timing wrong is one of the most common reasons an eviction case gets thrown out or delayed in court.

what can a landlord look at during an inspection

During a routine or move-in/move-out inspection, a landlord can generally examine the physical condition of the unit: walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, plumbing fixtures, windows, doors, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and any landlord-owned furnishings or systems. The purpose is documenting condition and identifying maintenance or safety issues, not searching through the tenant's personal belongings. A landlord generally cannot use an inspection as a pretext to go through a tenant's private possessions, drawers, or personal files unless there's a specific, narrow reason tied to a documented maintenance issue (like checking under a sink for a leak that happens to be near stored items). Overreaching during an inspection, beyond what's reasonably necessary to check the property's condition, can expose a landlord to a claim of harassment or violation of the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment. Many rental licensing programs, including city-mandated rental inspection programs, specifically limit what a code inspector can check to health and safety items: smoke detectors, egress windows, electrical panel condition, visible mold or pest issues, and structural safety concerns, rather than general housekeeping or personal property. If you're preparing for a city-mandated rental inspection tied to a licensing renewal, focus your prep on the health and safety basics inspectors actually check, since that's almost always the scope, regardless of city. A packet like the $79 City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet walks through the common inspection checklist items city programs use, which can save you a failed-inspection reschedule fee in cities that charge one.

what can a landlord not do in ohio

Ohio's Landlord-Tenant Act, codified at Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, sets several things a landlord cannot do regardless of what the lease says. A landlord cannot shut off utilities, change the locks, or remove a tenant's belongings to force them out without going through the formal eviction process in court, a practice generally called 'self-help eviction' that Ohio law prohibits . Ohio law also requires landlords to maintain the unit in a fit and habitable condition, keep common areas safe, and comply with building and housing codes, meaning a landlord can't simply ignore serious repair requests indefinitely without risking a tenant's legal remedies, which under Ohio Revised Code 5321.07 can include the tenant depositing rent with a court and using it toward repairs under certain conditions . Ohio landlords also cannot retaliate against a tenant for exercising legal rights, like requesting repairs or reporting a code violation, and cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability under both state law and the federal Fair Housing Act ^[6]. If you're operating rentals in Ohio specifically, read Chapter 5321 directly rather than relying on general landlord-tenant advice written for other states, since Ohio's specific deposit, notice, and habitability rules differ in detail from neighboring states.

what should a bothell short term rental host check before listing a property

Before your first booking goes live, run through a short checklist rather than assuming everything is covered because you found a listing site with generic advice. First, confirm your zoning designation with Bothell's planning department, since some residential zones restrict or condition short term rental use differently than others. Second, confirm your business license status directly with the city or the state's combined licensing portal, and don't rely on a platform's onboarding flow to tell you whether you're compliant, since platforms generally don't verify local licensing before letting you publish. Third, register for and understand your Washington state tax obligations, including retail sales tax and any applicable lodging tax, even if your platform collects some of it automatically ^[1]. Fourth, check whether your property sits in an HOA or condo association with its own short term rental restrictions, since those are private contractual restrictions that exist entirely outside city law and can shut down your rental regardless of your city license status. Fifth, if your city or county requires periodic safety inspections tied to rental licensing (smoke detectors, egress, electrical), get ahead of that before your first renewal cycle rather than scrambling when a notice arrives. A prep packet can help organize what a typical inspection covers, but the fastest path is always calling the specific office handling your city's program and asking what they actually check, since checklist items do vary by city even within the same state.

Frequently asked questions

Does Bothell Washington have a specific short term rental license separate from a regular business license?

As of this writing, Bothell handles short term rental hosting under its general business license requirement rather than a dedicated STR permit category, unlike cities such as Seattle or Tacoma. Confirm current status with the Bothell business license office, since municipal codes get updated and a specific STR ordinance may exist by the time you're reading this.

How do I become a landlord for the first time?

Start by confirming you have legal authority to rent the property, then research your state's landlord-tenant act and any city business licensing or rental registration requirements. Get proper insurance, understand habitability obligations, and decide whether you need an LLC. Most new landlords benefit from reading their state statute directly rather than relying only on general advice articles.

What is landlording as a general concept?

Landlording is the day-to-day work of owning and managing rental property: screening occupants, collecting rent or booking payments, handling maintenance, staying compliant with local licensing and safety codes, and managing the legal relationship with tenants or guests under applicable landlord-tenant law.

What is a landlord, in the simplest legal definition?

A landlord is the person or entity that owns or legally controls a rental property and rents or leases it to another party (a tenant or guest) in exchange for payment, taking on responsibilities like maintenance, habitability, and compliance with applicable landlord-tenant law.

What rights do tenants have if they never signed a lease?

Tenants without a written lease generally still have rights under state landlord-tenant law, typically defaulting to a month-to-month tenancy with standard habitability, notice, and non-discrimination protections. A missing lease doesn't remove tenant protections, it just shifts which default legal rules apply to the arrangement.

Who handles the move-in and move-out walkthrough inspection for a rental in California?

The landlord is responsible for conducting the walkthrough under California Civil Code Section 1950.5, including giving at least 48 hours' written notice before a pre-move-out inspection if the tenant requests one, and providing an itemized list of deductible issues so the tenant can fix them before moving out.

Why do landlords require tenants to carry renters insurance?

Renters insurance covers a tenant's personal belongings and liability for incidents the tenant causes, which a landlord's own building insurance typically doesn't cover. Requiring it shifts that risk off the landlord's policy and onto the tenant's, often for as little as $15 to $30 a month depending on coverage and location.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental unit?

It depends on the state. Washington generally requires two days' notice for non-emergency entry under its Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, while California generally requires 24 hours under Civil Code Section 1954. Always check your specific state statute, since notice periods for entry and for ending a tenancy differ and change.

What can a landlord actually check during a rental inspection?

Landlords and city inspectors generally check the physical condition and safety systems of a unit: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, plumbing, electrical, structural safety, and egress windows. They generally cannot use an inspection to search a tenant's personal belongings without a specific maintenance-related reason.

What is a landlord not allowed to do under Ohio law?

Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, a landlord cannot perform a self-help eviction (shutting off utilities, changing locks, or removing belongings without a court order), cannot ignore habitability obligations, and cannot retaliate against or discriminate against a tenant for exercising legal rights.

Do I still owe Washington state lodging tax if Airbnb collects taxes for me automatically?

Possibly not for the specific taxes the platform collects, but you may still owe state Business License registration and other local taxes the platform doesn't cover. Check your platform's current tax collection agreement with Washington State and confirm your remaining obligations directly with the Department of Revenue.

What happens if I operate a short term rental in Bothell without a business license?

You risk city penalties for unlicensed business activity, potential back taxes and interest from the Washington Department of Revenue if you weren't remitting lodging tax, and possible removal from booking platforms that verify licensing. Exact fine amounts need confirmation from Bothell's code enforcement office.

Does an HOA rule override a city's short term rental licensing approval?

Yes, practically speaking. A city business license or STR permit only confirms you're compliant with city law. If your property sits in an HOA or condo association that restricts or bans short term rentals, that private contractual restriction can still stop you from operating even with a valid city license.

Sources

1. Washington State Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service: Washington cities including Bothell process general business licenses through the state's combined Business Licensing Service
2. Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 59.18, Residential Landlord-Tenant Act: Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act governs habitability, entry notice, month-to-month tenancy defaults, and notice to end tenancy
3. California Civil Code Section 1950.5: California landlords must give 48 hours written notice for a pre-move-out inspection and an itemized list of deductible repair issues
4. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing Act: The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing regardless of lease status
5. Seattle Municipal Code, Just Cause Eviction Ordinance: Seattle applies additional just cause eviction protections beyond the Washington state minimum notice requirements
6. California Civil Code Section 1954: California generally requires 24 hours notice before a landlord enters a rental unit for routine purposes
7. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, Landlord and Tenant: Ohio law prohibits landlord self-help eviction and sets habitability and repair remedy obligations under Section 5321.07