Lawsuit Claims Bellingham's STR Restrictions Are Unconstitutional

6/16/2025

Two residents of Bellingham, WA, are suing the city over its restrictions on short-term rentals, claiming that the ordinance violates constitutional rights, including due process and equal protection. The residents own multiple properties in Bellingham that they operate as STRs. The properties the Suttons owned and wanted to rent included accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Bellingham defines ADUs as separate, self-contained units on the same lot as an existing single-family home. ADUs can be licensed as STRs only if they are attached to the main residence. The plaintiffs, who wish to rent out a detached ADU as an STR, are suing in part due to the city's denial of an exception to do so. They allege that the ordinance deprives them of their "pre-constitutional, fundamental, historical, natural, vested, settled property right to set the lease term for their private dwellings."

Bellingham Herald (WA) (06/13/25) Hannah Edelman

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