Rental Inspections in Bellingham, WA (2026)
2 verified rental inspections rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Inspection Programs
Bellingham requires every residential rental property to register with the city and undergo a safety inspection at least once every three years under its rental registration and safety inspection program.
Bellingham Rental Registration & Inspection
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code §§ 6.15.040, 6.15.050
Beginning on August 1, 2015, no person shall make available for rent, or rent, lease, or let, to the public any residential housing unit without registering and maintaining registration of the rental property at which the unit is located. ... All rental properties will be inspected prior to submitting the initial application for residential rental registration and at least once every three years.
Tenant Complaint Process
When Bellingham's department gets notice of a building or fire code violation in a rental unit, it can inspect or seek a warrant, and may require proof the tenant first notified the landlord, under BMC 6.15.070.
Bellingham Tenant Complaint Rental Inspection
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 6.15.070(A)
Whenever the department is provided notice of a violation of the building code, the fire code, or violations of any other applicable Bellingham Municipal Code with respect to a rental unit, the department is authorized to request to conduct an inspection of the rental unit under the building code, fire code, or other applicable law or to pursue a warrant under RCW 59.18.150. The department may ...
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Rental Inspections in Whatcom County →