Managing Rental License with eTrakit

Our online permitting / license program will allow you to register and manage most of the things associated with your license right from your own personal computer such as: registering and paying for a license, tracking inspection appointments (during the assigned quarter), viewing and printing Certificates of Registration or Statements of Compliance (proof that inspection passed) once uploaded by the rental registration team.

All users must have (or create) a login to use the system. This “how to” guide provides a printable version of the step-by-step instructions on using the eTRAKiT web portal listed below.

How to Guide

  1. Go to permits.cob.org/etrakit
  2. Click “Setup an Account” and follow the instructions
  3. Click on Create Account

*Visit page 1 of the printable “how to” guide for illustrations.

  1. Go to permits.cob.org/etrakit
  2. Log in as public user with previously created username and password.
  3. WELCOME to your Dashboard! Click on “Apply for New Licenses” and enter the following information:
    • License Information
      • Type: Select Rental Registration
      • SubType: Select from drop-down menu based on number of units on the site
      • Licensee Name: Enter name of property owner
      • Unit Type: Select from drop-down menu
      • Inspection Preference: Choose City of Bellingham Inspector, Approved Private Inspector or N/A-Exempt if your unit qualifies for an exemption (see criteria under “Do I have to Register?)
      • Exemption Status: Select from drop-down menu (NOTE: Most rentals that qualify for an exemption still must be registered with the City – check out the criteria under “Do I have to Register?)
    • Additional Information
      • Rental Address: Enter house # and street name
      • Unit Numbers: Enter all unit numbers separated by commas (for multi-units) or the house number (for single-family units)
      • # of Units: Enter total number of units being registered / rented
      • Primary Contact: Choose from drop-down who should receive all correspondence on the license
    • Attachments
      • If your unit qualifies for an exemption – the Exemption Declaration Form can be filled in and attached to your rental license registration request here.
      • Click “NEXT STEP”
    • License Address
      • Enter address (without city/state) and click on “search”
      • Select your address from the selections provided. (If nothing comes up, modify the information entered –maybe try only your house number and no street name.)
      • Scroll and confirm that Owner and Applicant Information is accurate –
        • Add phone number and email address if blank
        • Enter primary contact information if different from above
      • Click “NEXT STEP” and review all information on screen
    • If correct, Click “NEXT STEP”
      • IMPORTANT: A message indicating that “no fees are due at this time” will pop onto screen – the $10.00 registration fee will be applied to your license once staff has processed the application, and an email be sent to the primary contact to advise the account is ready for payment.
    • Click on “VIEW LICENSE” to link to your Dashboard

* Visit page 2 of the printable “how-to” guide for illustrations.

  1. Go to permits.cob.org/etrakit
  2. Log in as public user with previously created username and password.
  3. WELCOME to your Dashboard!
    • If your current license number is not listed on your dashboard follow the steps outlined (below) under Adding / Removing License from your Dashboard.
  4. There are two ways to pay the fees:
    • Click on the PAY ALL FEES link under the Shopping Cart in the menu along the left of the screen. This will add all of the fees listed on your dashboard into the cart; or
    • Click the dollar amount (separately) from the FEES DUE column that you would like added to your shopping cart (If you have multiple renewals, you can click “Back to Dashboard” to select the additional dollar amounts from the other licenses)
  5. Review the list to ensure there are no fees listed that you are not prepared to pay for at this time.
  6. Click “Proceed to Checkout” and follow the steps

* Visit page 4 of the printable “how-to” guide for illustrations.

  1. Go to permits.cob.org/etrakit
  2. Log in as “public user” with a previously created username and password.
  3. If your current license number is not listed on your dashboard:
    • Click on “Link to Permits, Projects, and Licenses” (directly under the welcome message)
    • Use the drop-down arrow to Change from “Permits” to “License”
    • Enter full license number (i.e. RR2021-00001)
    • Click “LINK” – this will take you back to your dashboard and the license should now be listed
  4. To remove a license that was added in error, no longer under your ownership, or is a license that is no longer active
    • Click on the red “x” next to the license you would like to remove.

Visit page 3 of the printable “how-to” guide for illustrations.

Registration Fee: An annual fee due by December 31st of each calendar year to avoid late fees and other penalties, regardless of the month the application is received. For example: If a new Rental Registration is submitted in March 2022, that license is valid until December 31, 2022 – and must be renewed by 12/31/2022 to be valid for 2023.

  • $10.00/unit (for properties with 1-20 units on a single parcel)
  • $8.00/unit (for properties with 21+ units on a single parcel).

Safety Inspection Fee (Intermittent): A fee due only during the inspection quarter assigned to your neighborhood by the City.

  • $100.00/unit for City of Bellingham Inspector
  • $45.00/unit program fee for Private Inspector (separate from fees paid directly to the private inspector)

Please review the program fee schedule for a complete list of additional charges for late payments, missed appointments and safety re-inspections.

Contacts

​Planning and Community Development Department
Rental Registration Specialist
(360) 778-8361 or rentals@cob.org

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