Rental Property Rules in Seattle, WA (2026)
9 verified rental property rules for Seattle, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Washington state law (RCW 35.21.830) preempts local rent control, and Seattle cannot impose limits on rent increases, though the city has enacted other tenant protections including mandatory relocation assistance for large rent increases.
Seattle Rent Control & Stabilization
Few RestrictionsRCW 35.21.830 — Controls on rent for residential structures — Prohibited (State preemption)
RCW 35.21.830 — Controls on rent for residential structures — Prohibited — Exceptions. The imposition of controls on rent is of statewide significance and is preempted by the state. No city or town of any class may enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances or other provisions which regulate the amount of rent to be charged for single-family or multiple-unit residential rental structures or sites o...
Just Cause Eviction
Seattle enforces one of the nation's strongest just cause eviction ordinances under SMC 22.206.160(C), requiring landlords to demonstrate one of 18 legally defined reasons to terminate a tenancy, complemented by Washington's statewide just cause law (RCW 59.18.650).
Seattle Just Cause Eviction Protections
Heavy RestrictionsRental Registration
Seattle requires rental housing operators to register with the city and comply with the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO) under SMC 22.214, which mandates periodic inspections to ensure habitability standards.
Seattle Rental Property Registration
Heavy RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
Seattle's Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (TRAO) requires landlords who demolish, substantially rehabilitate, change use, or remove housing from the rental market to pay qualifying low-income tenants relocation assistance through the city's program under SMC 22.210.
Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsSecurity Deposit Rules
Seattle caps total move-in costs under SMC 7.24, allowing security deposits plus non-refundable fees up to no more than one month's rent, with last month's rent paid separately and installment plans required for tenants who request them.
Security Deposit and Move-In Fee Caps
Heavy RestrictionsNo-Fault Evictions
Seattle's Just Cause Eviction Ordinance sharply limits no-fault evictions: landlords cannot terminate month-to-month or fixed-term tenancies without one of the enumerated causes in SMC 22.206.160, even when the lease ends.
No-Fault Eviction Limits Under Just Cause
Heavy RestrictionsTenant Anti-Harassment
Seattle's tenant anti-harassment rules under SMC 14.06 and tenant protection chapters bar landlords from using threats, repeated unwanted contact, false statements, or service interruptions to drive tenants out, with enforcement by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR).
Tenant Anti-Harassment Protections
Heavy RestrictionsSeattle Office for Civil Rights — Fair Housing (Housing Rights)
Fair Housing — The Seattle Office for Civil Rights has jurisdiction within Seattle city limits. For housing discrimination outside Seattle, contact another agency. Fair housing is the right of everyone to have equal access to housing and housing services. It protects applicants and tenants against illegal discrimination based on a protected class. [...] Fair housing covers all types of housing ...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
Seattle's Fair Housing Ordinance SMC 14.08 prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to applicants because of their lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers, VASH, SSI, child support, alimony, and any other government or non-employment income.
Source of Income Discrimination Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSection 8 Voucher Acceptance
Seattle Housing Authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), and SMC 14.08 requires Seattle landlords to accept them on equal terms with other lawful income, banning Section 8 refusals and pretextual screening barriers.
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance Required
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Seattle city rules.
Rental Property Rules in King County →