Rental Property Rules in Bellingham, WA (2026)
2 verified rental property rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rental Registration
Bellingham requires landlords to register every rental property with the city before renting a residential housing unit, under a program that has run since August 2015 and covers nearly all rental housing, with limited exemptions.
Bellingham Rental Property Registration
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 6.15.040(A)
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. B. The fee for registration shall be set by council by ordinance. For the first two years following the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chap...
Repairs & Habitability
Bellingham's certificate-of-inspection program spells out exact conditions a rental unit must meet -- building and fire code minimums for structure, sanitation, heating, electrical, egress, alarms and fitness for habitation -- under BMC 6.15.050(B).
Bellingham Rental Inspection Standards
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 6.15.050(B)
A qualified rental housing inspector or city building code enforcement officer inspecting a rental unit for a certificate of inspection under this chapter shall inspect for and certify compliance with the following requirements of the building code, Chapter 59.18 RCW, and this chapter: 1. The minimum floor area standards for a habitable room as contained in the building code. ... 13. The requir...
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Whatcom County →