Local, full-service Airbnb, VRBO, and short-term rental management for homeowners in Everett — including the city's two-site operator cap, and how to run a fully compliant, profitable rental within it.
Everett has no owner-occupancy requirement — that rule was repealed in August 2023 (Ordinance 3963-23), whatever older guides claim. The real limits under EMC 19.13.250: two STR sites per person or entity and 8 guests per site, plus a city business license (~$111) and roughly 11.9% in guest-paid lodging tax. Whole-home absentee investment is fully legal — get a free property report to see what your address could earn.
Everett is the county seat and Snohomish County's largest city, anchored by the Boeing Everett Factory — the largest building in the world by volume — where 777 and 777X jets are assembled. The adjoining Future of Flight Aviation Center pulls a steady stream of aviation tourists and business travelers year-round, independent of season.
Everett also has real waterfront: Port Gardner Bay and the Everett Marina — one of the largest on the West Coast — plus a 15-minute ferry to Jetty Island's sandy beach in summer. Downtown adds the Schack Art Center, a working glassblowing studio, and the 10,000-seat Angel of the Winds Arena for hockey, concerts, and events. It's 25–30 minutes north of Seattle.
Yes — but Everett is different from Snohomish or Lake Stevens, and we'd rather tell you exactly how before you spend a dollar.
Everett does not require you to live in the property — that's a rule some other guides still get wrong. Under Everett Municipal Code 19.13.250, the real structure is simple: no more than two short-term rental sites per person or entity, citywide, each capped at 8 total guests, in any zone where dwelling units are allowed. That makes Everett open to absentee whole-home investment — not just a spare room or an ADU.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business license — new, filed Jan–Jun | $111 | City of Everett, 2026 fee schedule |
| Business license — new, filed Jul–Dec | $55 | Half-year rate |
| Annual renewal | $111 | $15 if gross receipts under $45,000/yr |
| Additional location | $29 | Per extra site beyond the first |
| Combined lodging tax (guest-facing) | ~11.9% | 9.9% sales/use + 2% special hotel-motel, location code 3105 |
Everett's code enforcement takes complaints through the Everett At Work portal, issues a Notice of Violation with a compliance deadline, and assesses $250 per day the property stays out of compliance — billed every two weeks until it's resolved. Unpaid fines can become a lien with the county treasurer. We register you correctly from day one so this is never a conversation you have to have.
Reviewed July 2026 against Everett's current code (Ordinance 4102-25, renumbered as EMC 19.13.250, and the 2026 Housekeeping amendment). Note: a former ADU owner-occupancy requirement was repealed in 2023 and no longer applies, despite still circulating in some older guides. Primary sources: Everett Municipal Code 19.13.250, City of Everett — Business License, City of Everett — Assessment of Fines, City of Everett — Code Enforcement, and WA DOR — Personal Home Rentals. We confirm current requirements and handle licensing as part of onboarding. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice — verify current requirements with the jurisdiction or qualified counsel before acting.
Most Everett owners never find out what their home could earn on the short-term market — and every month is money that could be left on the table. We won't invent a figure for you — get a free report with real comparable listings for your exact address.
Whether it's a whole-home investment, a spare room, or an ADU, we handle dynamic pricing, guest messaging, cleaner scheduling, licensing, and the lodging tax remittance — the whole operation, so you don't have to live near the property or think about it.
And if a second Everett site would push you past the two-per-operator cap, or the numbers just don't work, we'll tell you honestly on the call — and talk through whether a long-term lease or a different Snohomish County property makes more sense.
See exactly what's included →Get a free property report emailed to you — real comparable listings, an honest read on whether your setup qualifies, and what it'd take to get started. It's free, and it doesn't commit you to anything.
