Friday Harbor, Washington

Short-Term Rental Regulations — San Juan County

Allowed (Permit Required)

STR Status

Permit: Required
County-level data: No city-specific ordinance found. Showing regulations for San Juan County which apply to this area.
✓ Verified against the official ordinance.View source· Last verified 6/16/2026

Permit & Licensing

Permit RequiredYes
License Cost$2,300 (conditional use permit); $1,000 (provisional use permit)
Renewalannual
Business License RequiredNot specified
WaitlistNot specified

Owner Requirements

Owner Occupancy RequiredNot specified
Primary Residence RequiredNot specified
Insurance RequiredNot specified

Limits & Restrictions

Density / Distance CapSan Juan Island: 337, Orcas Island: 211, Lopez Island: 135, Outer islands: 10
Parking RequiredNot specified

Taxes & Fees

Transient Occupancy Tax / TOTContact city for rates

Zoning Restrictions

  • Not allowed in Natural shoreline, Conservancy shoreline, Agricultural Resource, Forest Resource land use designations, Shaw Island, Waldron Island, Owner-Builder Exempt structures, parcels on Friday Harbor water system, non-single-family/ADU structures, boats/tents/vehicles/unpermitted structures

Official Sources

sanjuancountywa.gov/1579/Vacation-Rentals-Information-and-Applica
Data confidence: 93%Last updated: June 16, 2026

Short-term rental rules in Friday Harbor, Washington

Friday Harbor, Washington has no separate city ordinance, so San Juan County rules apply — under which short-term rentals are allowed with a permit. Operators must obtain a permit (fee: $2,300 (conditional use permit).

Frequently asked questions

Are short-term rentals allowed in Friday Harbor, Washington?

Short-term rentals (including Airbnb and Vrbo) are allowed with a permit in Friday Harbor, Washington.

Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Friday Harbor?

A short-term rental permit is required, the fee is $2,300 (conditional use permit.

Where do these Friday Harbor short-term rental rules come from?

These details are verified against Friday Harbor's official short-term rental ordinance and updated when the rules change.

Always verify before you buy. Short-term-rental rules change often and may not be fully current here. Confirm directly with Friday Harbor, San Juan County, or Washington authorities — and consult a qualified attorney — before purchasing property or operating an STR. This is not legal advice.