Pasco, Washington
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Pasco, WA
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STR Regulations for Pasco, Washington
Pasco, WA Short-Term Rental (STR) Regulations Guide
Overview
Short-term rentals are explicitly prohibited in the City of Pasco. The city FAQ states: "The City of Pasco does not allow short-term rentals under 30 days." While long-term rentals (30+ days) require a license, STR operations are not permitted within city limits. This position is further reinforced by zoning regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which explicitly forbid transient occupancy.
How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Pasco
You cannot legally start a short-term rental business in Pasco city limits. Operating an STR (rentals under 30 days) is prohibited. However, the city council discussed potential future regulation in a 2025 workshop, suggesting a formal permitting process might emerge after a regional study by Visit Tri-Cities. For now, focus on legal alternatives like long-term rentals or properties outside city limits.
Required Documents, Permits, Licenses & Guidelines
| Type | Requirement | Details | |------|-------------|---------| | STR Ban | Prohibited | No permits/licenses available for STRs under 30 days | | Long-Term Rentals | Rental License | Required for rentals ≥30 days. Application and inspection info on city website | | State Taxes | Remittance | All applicable taxes must be paid per RCW 64.37.020 | | Safety | Compliance | Must follow RCW 64.37.030 (CO alarms, emergency info posting) | | Insurance | Liability Coverage | $1M minimum required per RCW 64.37.050 | | ADUs | No STR Use | Zoning code 25.161.040 bans transient occupancy in ADUs |
Specific Regulations
City of Pasco:
- STR Prohibition: Explicitly banned under 30 days (FAQ source).
- Zoning Compliance: ADUs cannot be used for STRs (PMC 25.161.040).
- Long-Term Rentals: Must obtain a city rental license and pass inspections.
Franklin County:
- County-level STR regulations not provided in sources. Contact county enforcement at 509-545-3521 for unincorporated areas.
State of Washington (RCW 64.37):
- Definitions: STRs = lodging <30 consecutive nights (excludes hotels/B&Bs).
- Taxes: Operators/platforms must collect/remit sales, lodging, and occupancy taxes.
- Safety: Must provide emergency contacts, exits, occupancy limits, and CO alarms.
- Insurance: $1M liability coverage required (operator or platform-provided).
Contact Information
| Department | Contact Details | |------------|-----------------| | Pasco Code Division | Phone: 509-543-5743<br>Email: Via online form<br>Website: Pasco Code Division | | Pasco City Hall | Phone: 509-544-3080<br>Address: 525 N 3rd Ave, Pasco, WA 99301 | | Franklin County (Unincorporated) | Phone: 509-545-3521 | | Long-Term Rental Licensing | Phone: 509-543-5743<br>Website: Rental License Application |
Key Source Links
- City STR Prohibition & Rental Licensing: Pasco FAQ - STR Ban
- ADU Zoning Restrictions: Pasco Municipal Code 25.161.040
- State STR Framework: RCW 64.37 - Short-Term Rentals
- Council STR Discussion: Pasco Workshop Overview
- Rental License Info: Pasco Residential Rental Licenses
Critical Notes for Investors
- Operate Legally: STRs are banned – violations may result in enforcement action.
- Alternative Strategies: Consider long-term rentals in Pasco or unincorporated Franklin County (verify county rules).
- Future Outlook: Monitor city council actions post-Visit Tri-Cities study (timeline: 2–3 years).
- State Compliance: If operating STRs elsewhere in WA, adhere to RCW 64.37 tax, safety, and insurance requirements.
This guide synthesizes current city ordinances, state statutes, and recent council discussions to provide actionable clarity for investors. Always verify county-level rules for properties outside Pasco city limits.
What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Pasco?
Pasco hosts earn a median $21,625/year with $140 ADR and 62% occupancy.
Top performers pull in $29,930+ per year.
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Pasco
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Overview of Pasco
Pasco sits in the southeastern corner of Washington State, in Franklin County, where the Snake River meets the Columbia. With a population of roughly 75,000, it is the second-largest of the three cities that make up the Tri-Cities metropolitan area alongside Kennewick and Richland. Pasco has a working-class, agriculture-rooted character shaped by the surrounding vineyards, orchards, and wheat fields of the Columbia Basin, and it carries the relaxed, sun-soaked pace typical of the state's drier eastern half. The city is best known as a hub for the region's food-processing industry and as a launching point for river-based recreation, the nearby Hanford Site, and the wider wine country of the Walla Walla Valley. It lies approximately 225 miles southeast of Seattle, a drive of about three and a half hours across the Cascades on Interstate 90.
A short walk from downtown leads to the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Education Center, which sits on the Columbia River near the place where Lewis and Clark camped in 1805. The center tells the story of the expedition's passage through the region and of Sacagawea, the Shoshone guide who traveled with the corps. It is a small but well-curated stop for visitors interested in the human and natural history of the inland Northwest, and it is essentially at the doorstep of any Pasco rental.
About 25 minutes north of Pasco, near Richland, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park preserves the B Reactor, the world's first full-scale plutonium production reactor, along with related facilities from the top-secret wartime effort. The site, operated during the Cold War by what is now the Department of Energy, is one of the most historically significant Cold War landmarks in the country and offers guided tours of the still-intact reactor building. It is an unusual and compelling draw for history-minded travelers, and it is unique within the National Park System.
Roughly an hour's drive to the southeast, the rolling hills around Walla Walla have become one of the most celebrated wine regions in the Pacific Northwest, with more than 100 tasting rooms clustered around the historic town of Walla Walla. Many of the same visitors who come to Pasco for the rivers and the Hanford tours extend their stay to drive into the valley for a day of wine tasting and farm-to-table dining. Back in the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River itself, with its network of parks, boat launches, and shoreline trails running through all three cities, gives visitors an easy, walkable way to spend an afternoon.
For short-term rental owners, Pasco offers a quietly attractive combination: affordable real estate, a steady stream of business travelers connected to the area's agriculture, energy, and research industries, and a base from which guests can reach the river, the Hanford National Historical Park, and Walla Walla wine country all within a single trip. The city's central location in the Tri-Cities, paired with its regional airport and its proximity to outdoor recreation, gives it a year-round draw that goes beyond any single attraction.
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