Yakima County, WA Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Deadbolt throw
- At least 1 inch, readily openable inside
- Disallowed
- A sliding bolt is not an acceptable deadbolt
- Windows covered
- Openable windows within 6 feet of ground
- Applies to
- Rented dwelling, rooming and housekeeping units
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor/civil infraction, strict liability, per-day offense
Summary
Every door into a rented dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit in unincorporated Yakima County must carry a deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw that opens from the inside without a key, under the county's Property Maintenance Code. A sliding bolt doesn't count, and low windows serving those units need a working sash lock too.
404.18 Building security. Doors, windows or hatchways for dwelling units, room units or housekeeping units shall be provided with devices designed to provide security for the occupants and property within. 404.18.1 Doors. Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a throw of not less than 1 inch (25 mm). Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to manufacturer's specifications and maintained in good working order. For the purpose of this section, a sliding bolt shall not be considered an acceptable deadbolt lock. 404.18.2 Windows. Operable windows located in whole or in part within 6 feet (1828 mm) above ground level or a walking surface below that provide access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a window sash locking devices.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4871853; v6 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
18 of Yakima County's Property Maintenance Code requires every door, window or hatchway serving a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit to carry devices designed to secure the occupants and their property. 1 spells out the door standard for any such unit that is rented, leased or let: a deadbolt lock with a throw of at least 1 inch, installed to the manufacturer's specifications and kept in good working order, that opens readily from the inside without a key, special knowledge or effort. The code is explicit that a sliding bolt does not satisfy this requirement.
2 extends the security duty to windows: any operable window within 6 feet of ground level or a walking surface below, and that provides access to a rented dwelling, rooming or housekeeping unit, must have a window sash locking device. 3 covers the remaining opening: basement hatchways serving those same rented units must carry devices that secure them from unauthorized entry. 4. Yakima County's Public Services Department code enforcement division inspects and enforces these standards on rental housing in the unincorporated county.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who rents out a unit without a code-compliant deadbolt, window lock or hatchway security device is subject to a notice of violation under Section 106.2 and, if uncorrected, a misdemeanor citation or civil infraction under YCC Title 21 Chapter 21.04.030. The violation is treated as strict liability, meaning the county doesn't have to prove intent, and each day the noncompliant lock remains in place after notice counts as a separate offense under Section 106.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of lock is my rental required to have on the entry door?
Do low windows in a rental need locks too?
What happens if my landlord won't install a proper deadbolt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima County
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