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Anderson Island, WA

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STR Regulations for Anderson Island, Washington

Overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed on Anderson Island, WA?

  • Short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed on Anderson Island. The governing authority is Pierce County Code 18.37.040(B), which defines “Vacation Rentals” (VRs) and sets conditions under which STRs may operate within the county (including Anderson Island, which is unincorporated). The Riviera Community Club (RCC) has also developed its own STR policies and recommendation framework; these are private covenants that apply only within RCC boundaries but reference compliance with Pierce County. In practice, operators must meet Pierce County’s minimum requirements and any applicable HOA covenants. The overall regulatory environment in Anderson Island is characterized as low, but local ordinances and HOA rules still apply. Sources: RCC STR Committee Recommendations; Pierce County Code 18.37.040(B) as summarized in the RCC report; AirROI regulation classification.

How to start a short‑term rental business in this market

  • Step 1: Verify zoning and HOA constraints. On Anderson Island, the default STR framework is set by Pierce County. If the property is within the Riviera Community Club (Riviera HOA), confirm that STR operations are permitted under the covenants and bylaws and be prepared to follow any additional HOA registration, fee, or amenity pass rules the HOA implements. Source: RCC STR Committee Report.
  • Step 2: Confirm allowable occupancy. Pierce County allows a total of five guest rooms and a maximum of two guests per bedroom, not to exceed ten guests total at any time. Verify the bedroom count before listing. Source: PCC 18.37.040(B) summary in RCC report.
  • Step 3: Prepare neighbor notification. You must notify all neighboring property owners directly adjacent to the STR property about the vacation rental business. Document the notification and keep proof (mail receipts, certified mail, or signed acknowledgments). Source: PCC 18.37.040(B) summary.
  • Step 4: File the Vacation Rental Affidavit with Pierce County Planning and Public Works (PPW). The affidavit must indicate: the property owner’s intent to operate as a vacation rental; contact information for the owner, representative, or property management company (phone and email); internet site(s) where the property is advertised; and confirmation that neighborhood notification has been completed. Submit to PPW and retain a copy. Source: PCC 18.37.040(B) summary.
  • Step 5: Provide Good Neighbor guidance. Deliver a “Good Neighbor brochure” for short‑term rentals to each renter that describes appropriate etiquette and community expectations. Source: PCC 18.37.040(B) summary.
  • Step 6: Marketing and listing hygiene. Ensure any listings clearly communicate occupancy limits, parking instructions, and house rules consistent with county and HOA rules. List contact information for a responsible party. Source: PCC 18.37.040(B) summary.
  • Step 7: Tax and business compliance. While short‑term rentals may be subject to state and local lodging taxes, always confirm your specific tax obligations directly with the Washington State Department of Revenue (lodging tax) and Pierce County (any local lodging taxes). Source: general WA lodging tax framework and GoSummer guidance; confirm with official sources.
  • Step 8: Manage ferry logistics and service realities. Anderson Island is served by a 20‑minute ferry from Steilacoom with limited capacity and occasional service interruptions. Plan guest communications and logistics accordingly (arrival windows, parking, limited services). Source: SammamishWashington article.
  • Step 9: Community alignment. If within Riviera, expect the HOA to encourage operator engagement in the community and discourage purely investment‑only STR operations. Prepare to obtain any HOA STR registration, pass, or fee that may be adopted. Source: RCC STR Committee recommendations.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

  • Required at the county level (Pierce County):
    • Vacation Rental Affidavit filed with Pierce County Planning and Public Works, containing:
      • Property owner’s intent to use the residence as a vacation rental;
      • Contact information for owner, representative, or property manager (phone and email);
      • Listing of internet site(s) where the vacation rental property is advertised;
      • Confirmation that neighbor notification has been completed.
    • Proof of neighbor notification to all directly adjacent property owners.
    • Good Neighbor brochure distributed to each renter describing STR etiquette and expectations.
    • Occupancy compliance (max five guest rooms; two guests per bedroom; cap of ten guests total).
    • Parking instructions provided to guests indicating guest parking locations.
  • Required by the Riviera Community Club (if applicable):
    • STR registration with the HOA (RCC may require a copy of the county affidavit).
    • Amenity Pass or transfer and reasonable annual fee for amenity use.
    • STR Renter Pass (assigned number) provided by the owner to renters.
    • Adherence to HOA enforcement procedures and use of HOA complaint channels.
  • Recommended for all operators:
    • Clear written house rules (quiet hours, occupancy, parking, parties/events).
    • Emergency contact list and escalation instructions.
    • Ferry schedule, parking map, and island logistics briefing for guests.
  • Source: PCC 18.37.040(B) as summarized in the RCC report; RCC STR Committee recommendations.

Specific regulations for short‑term rentals in this city, county, and state

  • County (Pierce County):
    • Vacations rentals are allowed within legally established single‑family or accessory dwellings.
    • Limits: up to five guest rooms; two guests per bedroom; max ten guests at any time.
    • Compensation of any kind for lodging triggers the VR/STR framework.
    • Owner/representative must provide guest parking instructions.
    • Owner/representative must notify all adjacent neighbors and maintain proof.
    • Owner must file the Vacation Rental Affidavit with Pierce County PPW before operation.
    • A Good Neighbor brochure must be provided to each renter.
    • Longer‑term rentals exceeding 30 days are not regulated under PCC Chapter 18.37.040(B).
  • State (Washington):
    • WA taxes lodging businesses; you are responsible for collecting and remitting applicable lodging taxes. Confirm specific requirements with the Washington State Department of Revenue and Pierce County. Source: general WA lodging tax framework and third‑party guidance; verify obligations with official sources.
  • City (Anderson Island):
    • Anderson Island is unincorporated; there are no city‑specific STR regulations beyond county rules. If inside Riviera HOA, its covenants and bylaws add private restrictions and procedural requirements.
  • HOA (Riviera Community Club):
    • Requires compliance with Pierce County STR regulations.
    • Recommends owner registration with the HOA, including submission of the county affidavit.
    • Recommends creating STR amenity transfer and reasonable annual fee.
    • Recommends STR Renter Pass (assigned number) to associate renters with properties.
    • Recommends providing Good Neighbor materials and establishing a dedicated complaint email.
    • Recommends reporting violations to Pierce County Code Enforcement and enforcing HOA fines for repeated violations that impact quality of life.
    • Supports discouraging purely investment‑only STR operations within Riviera; suggests encouraging owner‑engagement in the community.
    • Legal note: The 2014 Washington State Supreme Court decision (Wilkinson v. Chiwawa Communities Association) held that short‑term rentals can constitute residential activity rather than commercial activity, but Riviera’s covenants may still be updated and enforced; owners should seek legal counsel. Source: RCC STR Committee Report.

Contact information (phone, email, website where available) for the local authority in charge of STRs

  • Pierce County Planning and Public Works (PPW)
  • Riviera Community Club (RCC)
    • Contact via the RCC website (rivieraclub.org) and member channels; STR complaints and registrations are handled per the committee’s recommendations. Source: RCC STR Committee Report.
  • Anderson Island community resources (general info)

Links to source pages

Notes for investors

  • Anderson Island has a small, seasonal market with limited services and ferry access constraints. Successful STRs tend to invest in quiet‑hours enforcement, clear logistics messaging, and quality‑of‑life alignment with local norms.
  • If within Riviera, anticipate HOA registration, amenity pass fees, renter pass programs, and a growing enforcement posture against nuisance behavior. Consider engagement in community organizations to reduce friction and improve compliance outcomes.
  • Because Anderson Island is unincorporated, operators should rely primarily on Pierce County rules and any applicable HOA covenants; there are no city‑level STR ordinances beyond those frameworks.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Anderson Island?

Anderson Island hosts earn a median $30,060/year with $258 ADR and 47% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $41,821+ per year.

See the full Anderson Island market breakdown

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Anderson Island

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
7/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
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Photos of Anderson Island

Overview of Anderson Island

Anderson Island sits at the southern end of Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington, and is the most southerly island in the sound. With a year-round population of roughly 1,000 residents, it has the feel of a small, woodsy coastal community where deer outnumber stoplights and waterfront cottages mix with evergreen forest. The island serves as a quiet gateway to southern Puget Sound, reachable only by boat, and offers visitors a slower, more rural alternative to the busier San Juan islands farther north. The mainland jump-off point is Steilacoom, a small town in Pierce County about an hour's drive south of Seattle and roughly twenty minutes from Tacoma.

The journey to Anderson Island begins at the Steilacoom Ferry Terminal, where Washington State Ferries operates the Christine Anderson–class ferry Steilacoom II on the run across the sheltered waters of Balch Passage. The crossing takes about twenty minutes, and the trip itself, with views of Mount Rainier on a clear day, is part of the appeal. Riders can find current schedule and fare information through Washington State Ferries. Once ashore, the island unfolds into a network of quiet country roads, salt-water vistas, and community parks.

On the island itself, Anderson Island County Park offers a stretch of shoreline, picnic areas, and walking paths typical of the small public spaces Pierce County maintains in the southern Sound. The Anderson Island Historical Society operates a small museum complex that preserves the community's pioneer and steamboat-era past, including the restored Johnson Farmhouse, which gives visitors a sense of what life looked like when early homesteaders cleared the island in the late 1800s. Just offshore, the historic cellblock lighthouse on nearby McNeil Island — a former federal penitentiary site — remains a recognizable silhouette for boaters exploring the surrounding waters.

On the mainland side, Steilacoom itself is one of the oldest incorporated towns in Washington, with a handful of 19th-century buildings, a waterfront promenade, and views back toward Anderson Island across the passage. From there, Tacoma is a short drive north, where visitors can explore the waterfront Museum of Glass, the Washington State History Museum, and Point Defiance Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country.

Anderson Island appeals to short-term-rental owners because it offers something increasingly rare in the Puget Sound region: genuine quiet, dark-sky nights, and a genuine sense of escape, all within a roughly 90-minute trip of downtown Seattle. The combination of a ferry-only setting, walkable shorelines, and proximity to Tacoma's cultural attractions gives the island a niche but durable appeal for travelers seeking a Pacific Northwest retreat that feels a world away from the mainland.

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