Rental Property Rules in Burien, WA (2026)
2 verified rental property rules for Burien, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rental Registration
In the City of Burien, Washington, rental housing is licensed through a Burien business license under Chapter 5.05 BMC. BMC 5.62.040(2) makes the license a condition of operation and calls it a privilege, not a right. Operating without one costs $100.00 per day for the first 10 days and $250.00 per day afterward.
Burien Rental Housing Business License Requirement
Significant RestrictionsBurien Municipal Code § 5.62.040(2)
(2) Business License Required. As a condition of operation, each and every owner or landlord renting or leasing a residential housing unit within the city limits shall, in accordance with Chapter 5.05 BMC, obtain and maintain a business license. The issuance of such a license shall be considered a privilege and not an absolute right, and the possession of such license shall not entitle the owne...
Repairs & Habitability
In the City of Burien, Washington, rental habitability is enforced through the Rental Housing Inspection Program in Chapter 5.62 BMC. The Community Development Director publishes a checklist that can draw on the building code, the fire code and RCW 59.18.060, and a rental that never produces a certificate is deemed uninhabitable after 30 days of noncompliance.
Burien Rental Habitability Checklist and Standards
Significant RestrictionsBurien Municipal Code § 5.62.070
(2) The director is authorized to create and publish a checklist to be used for declarations of compliance and inspections submitted or conducted under this chapter, and is authorized to include additional standards including, but not limited to, those within the building code, fire code, or RCW 59.18.060. (3) All certificates of inspection submitted under this chapter must state that all units...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Burien city rules.
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