Short-Term Rental Laws in Camas, WA (2026)
Camas has no short-term-rental-specific ordinance: STRs are legal and the zoning code does not define, cap, or restrict them as a use. Operators need only a standard City of Camas business license ($50/year, obtained as a city endorsement through Washington's Business Licensing Service) plus compliance with Washington's statewide STR law (RCW 64.37), which requires DOR registration, $1M primary liability insurance (or platform coverage), and safety postings; guests pay a combined 10.8% lodging tax (8.8% sales tax + 2% city hotel/motel tax) that Airbnb and Vrbo collect on platform bookings. The biggest constraint on hosts is state law, not any city rule. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
Camas STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists |
| Permit fee | $50 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~10.8% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | State law (RCW 64.37.050): operators must maintain primary liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate covering the STR dwelling unit, or conduct each transaction through a platform (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) that provides equal or greater primary liability coverage. The city imposes no additional insurance requirement. |
| Enforcement | Camas has no STR-specific enforcement program, registry, or inspections. Business-license violations are enforced as civil infractions under CMC 5.02.080. Zoning/home-occupation issues are handled on a complaint basis under CMC 18.39.090 and CMC 18.55 Article VIII. No STR-related enforcement actions or court decisions affecting Camas were found for 2023-2026. |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Camas stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Camas, WA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Camas occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Washington combined state & local retail sales tax (Camas location code 0602) (8.8%)· collection varies | $39.60 |
| City of Camas special hotel/motel (lodging) tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| Total tax (10.8%) | $48.60 |
| Guest pays | $498.60 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Camas requires City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $50, renewed annual.
$50 city business license application fee and $50 annual renewal fee (CMC 5.02.060, as increased by Ord. 24-016, Nov. 18, 2024), plus the state Business Licensing Service handling fee (RCW 19.02.075). This is the city's generic business license required of all businesses; Camas has no short-term-rental permit, registration, or inspection program of its own.
Zoning & location rules
The Camas zoning code (CMC Title 18, codified through the April 1, 2026 supplement) contains no 'short-term rental' or 'vacation rental' use, definition, or restriction, so whole-home STRs are not zoned against anywhere in the city. The closest regulated uses are 'bed and breakfast inn' (a dwelling where short-term lodging rooms AND meals are provided) — permitted outright in several commercial/mixed-use zones and allowed only as a conditional incidental use in certain residential zones per the CMC 18.07 use tables — and 'hotel' (short-term lodging for a fee up to 30 consecutive nights), confined to commercial zones; a B&B with six or more guest rooms is classified as a hotel. Home-based businesses generally need a home occupation permit (CMC 18.39), but that chapter never mentions lodging or rentals, and the city has not published guidance treating STRs as home occupations.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Washington combined state & local retail sales tax (Camas location code 0602)Applies to stays under 30 consecutive nights. Airbnb, Vrbo and other marketplace facilitators collect and remit for platform bookings; hosts taking direct bookings must register with the WA Department of Revenue and collect/remit themselves. Rate verified 2026-07-09 via DOR address lookup (LocationCode=0602 Rate=.088). | 8.8% | varies |
| City of Camas special hotel/motel (lodging) taxReported on DOR excise return line 70 for location 0602; brings the total lodging tax rate in Camas to 10.8% per the DOR Q2 2026 Lodging Rates flyer. Camas also receives the state-shared 'transient rental' basic lodging tax (line 47), which is credited against the state's 6.5% share and does not add to the guest's bill. Airbnb states all locally imposed transient lodging taxes are collected on Washington reservations; direct-booking hosts remit via their DOR excise return. There is no convention center tax or Tourism Promotion Area fee in Camas. | 2% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
Camas has no STR-specific enforcement program, registry, or inspections. Business-license violations are enforced as civil infractions under CMC 5.02.080. Zoning/home-occupation issues are handled on a complaint basis under CMC 18.39.090 and CMC 18.55 Article VIII. No STR-related enforcement actions or court decisions affecting Camas were found for 2023-2026.
Engaging in business (including short-term renting) without the required city business license is a civil infraction punishable by a maximum fine of $500 (CMC 5.02.080). Under state law, a first violation of RCW 64.37 safety/insurance duties draws a warning letter; subsequent violations are a class 2 civil infraction.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Camas
November 18, 2024
Ordinance 24-016: city business license fee increased
Camas adopted Ordinance No. 24-016, 'AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 5.02.060 OF THE CAMAS MUNICIPAL CODE INCREASING THE CITY BUSINESS LICENSE FEE,' setting the application and annual renewal fee at $50. This is the license every STR operator needs; no STR-specific rules were adopted.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Camas?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Camas, WA, but you must obtain a City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Camas?
Yes. Camas requires a City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists to operate a short-term rental, which costs $50 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Camas short-term rental permit cost?
The City of Camas General Business License (city endorsement via Washington State Business Licensing Service) — no STR-specific permit exists costs $50 (annual renewal). $50 city business license application fee and $50 annual renewal fee (CMC 5.02.060, as increased by Ord. 24-016, Nov. 18, 2024), plus the state Business Licensing Service handling fee (RCW 19.02.075). This is the city's generic business license required of all businesses; Camas has no short-term-rental permit, registration, or inspection program of its own.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Camas?
Yes — Camas does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Camas?
Hosts in Camas are subject to: Washington combined state & local retail sales tax (Camas location code 0602) (8.8%), City of Camas special hotel/motel (lodging) tax (2%) — roughly 10.8% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Camas?
Engaging in business (including short-term renting) without the required city business license is a civil infraction punishable by a maximum fine of $500 (CMC 5.02.080). Under state law, a first violation of RCW 64.37 safety/insurance duties draws a warning letter; subsequent violations are a class 2 civil infraction. Camas has no STR-specific enforcement program, registry, or inspections. Business-license violations are enforced as civil infractions under CMC 5.02.080. Zoning/home-occupation issues are handled on a complaint basis under CMC 18.39.090 and CMC 18.55 Article VIII. No STR-related enforcement actions or court decisions affecting Camas were found for 2023-2026.
Camas's STR rules changed 1 time recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Vancouver, WAPermit required
- Portland, ORPrimary residence only
- Seattle, WAPermit required
- San Francisco, CAPrimary residence only
- Los Angeles, CAPrimary residence only
Sources
- Camas Municipal Code, Chapter 5.02 Business Licenses Generally (Municode, codified through April 1, 2026)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Camas Municipal Code, Title 18 Zoning (definitions 18.03, use tables 18.07, home occupations 18.39)retrieved July 9, 2026
- City of Camas — Licensing & Permits (Finance Department)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Washington DOR — Lodging Information Rates and Changes, Q2 2026 flyerretrieved July 9, 2026
- RCW Chapter 64.37 — Short-Term Rentals (Washington State Legislature)retrieved July 9, 2026
- Washington DOR — Airbnb to collect and send taxes on behalf of hostsretrieved July 9, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center — Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Washingtonretrieved July 9, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Camas and a qualified professional before operating.