Overview: Are STRs allowed in Entiat?

• Yes. Short‑term rentals (STRs), also called vacation rentals, are allowed in Entiat subject to city approvals and operating standards.
• You must obtain a City of Entiat short‑term rental (STR) permit and a City business license, pass a safety inspection, and comply with occupancy, parking, life safety, posting, and good-neighbor requirements.
• If your property is within an unincorporated Chelan County area (i.e., outside city limits but inside the Entiat Urban Growth Area), county STR rules may apply. In those areas, the county generally adopts the city’s STR regulations for the UGA, but you should verify the precise jurisdiction and current procedures with Chelan County.

Key Entiat STR requirements (summary)

• One off‑street parking space per rented bedroom plus one, on the same property.
• Occupancy: max two adults per bedroom, and never more than six adults total.
• Owner must carry property insurance and liability coverage.
• No use as event space (no weddings, parties, or gatherings with non‑occupants).
• Local contact if not owner‑occupied: must be available 24/7, within 25 miles of Entiat, and listed on posted signs indoors and outdoors.
• Posted property information indoors and outdoors (address, emergency contacts, floor plan with exits, occupancy limits, site/parking map, shoreline access info if applicable, renter rules).
• Life safety: functioning CO and smoke detectors; one 2A:10‑BC fire extinguisher per floor.
• Weekly trash service.
• Only one STR per single‑family lot; in multifamily, ≤20% of units (in 3–4 unit buildings, up to one STR per property). No STRs in RVs, tents, garages, or non‑dwelling structures.

How to start an STR business in Entiat

1. Determine zoning eligibility

• Confirm STRs are a permitted accessory use in your district via EMC Chapter 18.40 (District Use Chart). Contact the City to confirm the zoning designation and STR eligibility for your parcel.

2. Apply for a City short‑term rental permit

• Submit the STR permit application to the City. The City will conduct a safety inspection before issuing the permit to verify:
  • CO and smoke detectors are installed and functioning per the International Residential Code (IRC).
  • Fire extinguishers are installed and functioning (2A:10‑BC or higher per floor; per NFPA 10).
  • Local contact and property information signs are installed as required.
  • All approval conditions are met.
• Note: STR permits are nontransferable and expire if the business license is not renewed within 60 days after the business license expires.

3. Obtain a City business license

• Apply within six months of STR permit approval. Provide:
  • Verification of insurance.
  • Safety inspection approval (for the first year), or in subsequent years, self‑certification that fire extinguishers, CO and smoke detectors are functioning, and that the local contact and property information postings are in place.
  • Contact info for the property owner and local contact.
• Renew annually.

4. Compliance program

• Maintain a current, comprehensive compliance binder at the unit and with your management team:
  • Permit and business license.
  • Insurance declarations.
  • Safety inspection or self‑certification records.
  • Posted signs (indoor/outdoor).
  • Parking plan and site map.
  • Occupancy limits and floor plan with exits.
  • Emergency procedures and contact list.
  • Trash service agreement/confirmations.
  • Good‑neighbor and house rules for renters.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines City of Entiat (within city limits)

• Short‑term rental permit (City approval; safety inspection required prior to license).
• City business license (renew annually; safety inspection first year; self‑certification thereafter).
• Proof of insurance (property and liability).
• Posting documentation (photos of required indoor/outdoor signs).
• Parking plan/site map and floor plan with exits.
• Weekly trash service confirmation.
• Burn‑ban notice posting process (when bans are active).
• Interior property information posting (emergency contacts, floor plan and escape routes, occupancy limits, site/parking map, shoreline access info, renter responsibilities, street map with evacuation routes).
• If not owner‑occupied: local contact designation and 24/7 responsiveness commitment.

Chelan County (unincorporated areas, including Entiat UGA) If operating in unincorporated Chelan County, you may be subject to county STR rules. Key items include:

• Land use permit (administrative or Conditional Use Permit, depending on tier/zoning).
• Annual permit number and display in all advertisements (county requirement).
• A Property Management Plan (floor plan, site map, emergency egress, shoreline access info if applicable; qualified person contact; consumer safety per RCW 64.37; fire protection plan; landline/VOIP phone and Rivercom registration; burn‑ban/renter notification methods; occupancy/bedroom counts; vehicle/parking layout; Good Neighbor Guidelines).
• Qualified person within 60 minutes; 24/7 availability.
• Liability insurance consistent with RCW 64.37.050.
• Compliance with noise (Chapter 7.35), trespass (Chapter 7.32), garbage (Chapter 4.04), and fire hazard controls (Chapter 7.52).
• Fire extinguisher (at least one 2A:10‑BC in common living space).
• Annual permit renewal and advertising requirements.

Entiat‑specific STR regulations (EMC 18.44.020)

• Purpose: protect public health/safety, neighborhood enjoyment, and affordable housing; minimize impacts of STRs.
• Where allowed: as provided in EMC 18.40 (District Use Chart).
• Operating standards:
  • Parking: one off‑street space per bedroom plus one, on the property.
  • Occupancy: max two adults per bedroom; max six adults total.
  • Insurance: property insurance and liability coverage required.
  • Events: no STR use as event space (no weddings/parties with non‑occupants).
  • Local contact (non‑owner‑occupied): must be within 25 miles, available 24/7; listed on indoor and outdoor signs.
  • Required postings (indoor and outdoor): property address; emergency contacts; floor plan with exits; occupancy; site/parking map; shoreline access (if applicable); renter responsibilities; street map with evacuation routes; owner/contact name, address, phone, email.
  • Life safety: functioning CO and smoke detectors; one fire extinguisher per floor (2A:10‑BC or higher).
  • Trash: weekly service and proper storage/placement.
  • Burn bans: required signage during bans.
  • Structure: only in a legally established dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit; no more than one STR per single‑family property; in multifamily structures, ≤20% of units may operate as STRs (3–4 unit buildings, up to one STR); no STRs in RVs, tents, garages, or non‑dwelling structures.
• Permits and licensing:
  • STR permit required (nontransferable).
  • Business license within six months of permit approval.
  • Safety inspection required before license; in subsequent years, self‑certification allowed for detectors/extinguishers/postings.
  • Annual renewal of business license.
• Violations and enforcement: Chapter 14.12 EMC.
• Immediate permit revocation triggers:
  • Operating without a business license.
  • Material misstatements or false information in application/renewal.
  • Violations of sufficient severity.
  • Three similar offenses within 12 months.

Chelan County STR regulations (unincorporated areas)

• Adopted a tiered framework and adopted city STR rules inside UGAs (including Entiat’s UGA).
• Land use permit required (administrative for most tiers; Conditional Use Permit for larger occupancies or as required by zoning).
• Housing caps by area: for new Tier 2 and Tier 3 STRs, limits apply where STRs exceed certain percentages of the total housing stock (e.g., many zip codes and subareas capped at 6%; Manson UGA capped at 9%; Peshastin UGA capped at 0%). Existing non‑conforming STRs may continue subject to compliance and timelines.
• Standards (selected highlights):
  • Location/zoning: allowed only in zones specified in the county use charts and per UGA rules.
  • Minimum lot sizes: required for new Tier 2 and Tier 3 STRs in rural/residential zones (e.g., RR20/RR10: ≥10 acres; RR5: ≥5 acres; RR2.5: ≥2.5 acres; RRR/RW/RV: ≥0.275 acres; Tier 3 not allowed in some smaller‑lot zones).
  • Separation: Tier 2 STRs in residential zones and the Manson UGA must be located ≥200 feet apart.
  • Access (Tier 3): direct highway access required.
  • Operating standards: occupancy limits by tier; parking; noise; garbage; trespass; signage (outside sign with registration number and central phone number; interior posting of management plan); qualified person within 60 minutes; landline/VOIP phone with Rivercom registration; fire safety and burn‑ban controls; consumer safety per RCW 64.37; advertising must display the permit number.
• Permits and process:
  • Registration and provisional self‑certification.
  • Application windows and waiting lists in capped areas (first‑come, first‑served).
  • Inspections and full review in year one or two; annual renewal thereafter.
  • Non‑conforming uses: must prove prior operation and tax payment between July 28, 2019 and August 25, 2020; comply within required timelines or cease operation.

State of Washington STR regulations (RCW 64.037–64.37)

• Registration and taxation: requires registration with the Department of Revenue and collection/remittance of applicable sales and lodging taxes.
• Consumer safety: posting of emergency information; addresses; occupancy; contact information; compliance with smoke/CO detector rules under the IRC; trash service; prohibition on events in residential areas (RCW 64.37.040).
• Liability insurance: minimum primary liability coverage requirements for STR operators (RCW 64.37.050).
• Enforcement and penalties: civil penalties and possible action by the Attorney General or county prosecutors.

Local authority contacts

• City of Entiat (City Hall)
  • Mailing: PO Box 133, Entiat, WA 98822
  • Physical: 9127 Simmons Street, Entiat, WA 98822
  • Phone: 509‑784‑1500
  • Email: city@ci.entiat.wa.us
  • Hours/Website: Check the City’s official page (link below).
• Chelan County Community Development Department (for STR permits in unincorporated areas/UGAs)
  • Mailing: PO Box 1980, Wenatchee, WA 98807
  • Physical: 316 Washington St., Suite 401, Wenatchee, WA 98801
  • Phone: 509‑667‑6215
  • Website: See link below
  • Short‑Term Rental Information Page: See link below

Links to source pages (important)

• Entiat Municipal Code – Short‑term rentals (EMC 18.44.020): www.codepublishing.com/WA/Entiat/html/Entiat18/Entiat1844.html
• City of Entiat official website: www.ci.entiat.wa.us/
• Chelan County Community Development Department: www.co.chelan.wa.us/community-development
• Chelan County Short‑Term Rentals information page: www.co.chelan.wa.us/community-development/short-term-rentals
• RCW 64.037–64.37 (Washington State Short‑Term Rental statutes): app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=64.37

Practical checklist for investors

• Confirm zoning and STR eligibility with the City (EMC 18.40).
• Size the parking plan to bedrooms plus one.
• Design interior/exterior posting package and signage (includes emergency/occupancy/site map/shoreline info/renter rules).
• Confirm life‑safety devices: CO and smoke detectors per IRC; fire extinguishers per floor (2A:10‑BC).
• Set up weekly trash service and burn‑ban notice process.
• If non‑owner‑occupied, designate a local contact within 25 miles; ensure 24/7 responsiveness.
• Obtain STR permit, pass safety inspection, and secure the City business license.
• For county‑jurisdictional properties, obtain the required land use permit/registration, prepare the Property Management Plan, and comply with consumer safety, qualified person, phone/Rivercom, and advertising rules.
• Maintain complete records for inspections, renewals, and any self‑certifications.

Notes

• If your property is inside Entiat’s city limits, follow the city’s STR rules (EMC 18.44.020) plus state requirements (RCW 64.37).
• If your property is in the unincorporated Entiat UGA, follow Chelan County’s STR rules (including county adoption of city rules for UGAs) plus state requirements; verify current procedures with the county.
• “Accessory dwelling units” (ADUs) are addressed in Entiat code (EMC 18.44.025); in many zones, ADUs are allowed and have separate standards. Check EMC 18.40 to see where ADUs and STRs intersect and whether ADUs may be used as STRs in your zone.