Rental Registration Exemptions

While almost all residential rentals are required to be registered, there are some specific exceptions. Learn more about exemptions.

Partially Exempt Units

Housing units that meet criteria for a partial exemption must be registered. However, property owners are not required to pay registration fees or have these units inspected.

If your unit meets any of the following, it is considered partially exempt:

  • Owner-occupied buildings containing two units:
    • A single-family residence that the owner occupies with an attached accessory dwelling unit (sometimes referred to as a “mother-in-law” apartment) that is rented out.
    • A single-family residence with an attached accessory dwelling unit that the owners occupy.
    • A single-family residence that has been converted into two apartments, one of which the owner occupies.
    • A duplex in which the owner occupies one of the units.
  • Units owned, operated or managed by a government agency or authority or are specifically exempted from a fee by state or federal law, however, once government ownership, operation or management ceases so does the exemption for fee payment.
  • Rental units that receive funding or subsidies from federal, state or local government, and that are inspected at least once every three years as a condition of that funding; and
  • Accessory dwelling units that are attached to a single-family residential unit AND the owner of the property resides in either of those housing units.
    • Detached ADUs are NOT exempt.

Fully Exempt Units

Housing units that meet one of the following criteria are exempt from participating in the program and don’t need to be registered.

If your unit meets any of the following, it is considered fully exempt:

  • Owner-occupied single-family residences.
  • Accommodations in hotels, motels, inns or similar facilities for transient guests (except for units occupied by non-transient guests).
  • Retirement or nursing homes and housing within any hospital or State licensed medical care facility, service care facility, convent, monastery or other housing occupied exclusively by members of a religious order.
  • Mobile or manufactured homes (these fall within the jurisdiction of Washington State Labor and Industries).
  • Shelters for transitional housing.
  • If a property is located outside of Bellingham city limits, it is not required to be registered. There are many Bellingham, Wash. addresses that are not located within the Bellingham City limits, but instead just outside of the boundary.
    • See if your property is within the city’s boundary:
      • Launch the CityIQ Online Map Viewer
      • Type the applicable address in the search field (top right)
      • Hit Enter
      • Click “Address” in the left-hand column and a pin will appear on the map
        • If it is inside the darker dashed lines, it is within the city limits and subject to the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program.
        • If it is outside the darker dashed lines, it is not subject to the program.

Home > Services > Permit Center > Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program