InstaBidsWhat safety rules must a Washington State short-term rental operator follow?
Plan guest contact arrangements, posted safety information and alarm work together before offering the rental. Use the Washington provisions below to review the setup, then document any installation or repair work that remains.
Source: RCW 64.37.030, Consumer safety, read 23 October 2026.
Source: RCW 19.27.530, Carbon monoxide alarms, read 23 October 2026.
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Key facts
- Washington rental operator safety provision: "(1) All short-term rental operators who offer dwelling units, or portions thereof, for short-term rental use in the state of Washington must: (a) Provide contact information to all short-term rental guests during a guest's stay. The contact must be available to respond to inquiries at the short-term rental during the length of stay; (b) Provide that their short-term rental is in compliance with RCW 19.27.530 and any rules adopted by the state building code council regarding the installation of carbon monoxide alarms; and (c) Post the following information in a conspicuous place within each dwelling unit used as a short-term rental: (i) The short-term rental street address; (ii) The emergency contact information for summoning police, fire, or emergency medical services; (iii) The floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes; (iv) The maximum occupancy limits; and (v) The contact information for the operator or designated contact."
Source: RCW 64.37.030, Consumer safety, read 23 October 2026.
- Washington carbon monoxide alarm provisions: "(1) By July 1, 2010, the building code council shall adopt rules requiring that all buildings classified as residential occupancies, as defined in the state building code in chapter 51-54 WAC, but excluding owner-occupied single-family residences legally occupied before July 26, 2009, be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. (2)(a) The building code council may phase in the carbon monoxide alarm requirements on a schedule that it determines reasonable, provided that the rules require that by January 1, 2011, all newly constructed buildings classified as residential occupancies will be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms, and all other buildings classified as residential occupancies will be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms by January 1, 2013. (b) Owner-occupied single-family residences legally occupied before July 26, 2009, are exempt from the requirements of this subsection (2). However, for any owner-occupied single-family residence that is sold on or after July 26, 2009, the seller must equip the residence with carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with the requirements of the state building code before the buyer or any other person may legally occupy the residence following such sale."
Source: RCW 19.27.530, Carbon monoxide alarms, read 23 October 2026.
- Washington alarm maintenance provision: "(4) The rules adopted by the building code council under this section must (a) consider applicable nationally accepted standards and (b) require that the maintenance of a carbon monoxide alarm in a building where a tenancy exists, including the replacement of batteries, is the responsibility of the tenant, who shall maintain the alarm as specified by the manufacturer."
Source: RCW 19.27.530, Carbon monoxide alarms, read 23 October 2026.
- Washington rental safety enforcement provision: "(3) For a first violation of this section, the city or county attorney must issue a warning letter to the owner or operator. An owner that violates this section after receiving a warning letter is guilty of a class 2 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW."
Source: RCW 64.37.030, Consumer safety, read 23 October 2026.
What must a Washington short-term rental operator provide?
Read the complete operator subsection when preparing guest information and safety arrangements.
Washington rental operator safety provision, read 23 October 2026: "(1) All short-term rental operators who offer dwelling units, or portions thereof, for short-term rental use in the state of Washington must: (a) Provide contact information to all short-term rental guests during a guest's stay. The contact must be available to respond to inquiries at the short-term rental during the length of stay; (b) Provide that their short-term rental is in compliance with RCW 19.27.530 and any rules adopted by the state building code council regarding the installation of carbon monoxide alarms; and (c) Post the following information in a conspicuous place within each dwelling unit used as a short-term rental: (i) The short-term rental street address; (ii) The emergency contact information for summoning police, fire, or emergency medical services; (iii) The floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes; (iv) The maximum occupancy limits; and (v) The contact information for the operator or designated contact."
Source: RCW 64.37.030, Consumer safety, read 23 October 2026.
What does Washington law say about carbon monoxide alarms?
Review the alarm requirement and phase-in provisions together with the rental safety subsection.
Washington carbon monoxide alarm provisions, read 23 October 2026: "(1) By July 1, 2010, the building code council shall adopt rules requiring that all buildings classified as residential occupancies, as defined in the state building code in chapter 51-54 WAC, but excluding owner-occupied single-family residences legally occupied before July 26, 2009, be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. (2)(a) The building code council may phase in the carbon monoxide alarm requirements on a schedule that it determines reasonable, provided that the rules require that by January 1, 2011, all newly constructed buildings classified as residential occupancies will be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms, and all other buildings classified as residential occupancies will be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms by January 1, 2013. (b) Owner-occupied single-family residences legally occupied before July 26, 2009, are exempt from the requirements of this subsection (2). However, for any owner-occupied single-family residence that is sold on or after July 26, 2009, the seller must equip the residence with carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with the requirements of the state building code before the buyer or any other person may legally occupy the residence following such sale."
Source: RCW 19.27.530, Carbon monoxide alarms, read 23 October 2026.
Who maintains a carbon monoxide alarm during a tenancy?
The alarm-maintenance rule provision is quoted below for the tenancy discussion.
Washington alarm maintenance provision, read 23 October 2026: "(4) The rules adopted by the building code council under this section must (a) consider applicable nationally accepted standards and (b) require that the maintenance of a carbon monoxide alarm in a building where a tenancy exists, including the replacement of batteries, is the responsibility of the tenant, who shall maintain the alarm as specified by the manufacturer."
Source: RCW 19.27.530, Carbon monoxide alarms, read 23 October 2026.
What happens after a rental safety violation?
Keep the warning and later-violation provision together when reviewing a notice.
Washington rental safety enforcement provision, read 23 October 2026: "(3) For a first violation of this section, the city or county attorney must issue a warning letter to the owner or operator. An owner that violates this section after receiving a warning letter is guilty of a class 2 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW."
Source: RCW 64.37.030, Consumer safety, read 23 October 2026.
How can a host scope alarm and exit-plan work?
Arrange safety work and guest information as part of the same preparation process. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any agency.
- Prepare a floor plan showing the sleeping rooms and intended escape routes for review.
- Ask the contractor to identify proposed alarm locations, device types and installation responsibilities.
- Keep completed work records with the rental safety information and review the guest-facing material before the next stay.
Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?
Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.
Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 23 October 2026.
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