Source-of-Income Discrimination: Bellevue vs Federal Way
How do source-of-income discrimination rules compare between Bellevue, WA and Federal Way, WA?
Bellevue and Federal Way have similar restriction levels.
Bellevue, WA
King County
RCW 59.18.255 prohibits King County landlords from refusing to rent based on a tenant's lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers, Social Security, veterans benefits, child support, and unemployment compensation.
View full Bellevue rules →Federal Way, WA
King County
RCW 59.18.255 prohibits King County landlords from refusing to rent based on a tenant's lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers, Social Security, veterans benefits, child support, and unemployment compensation.
View full Federal Way rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bellevue | Federal Way |
|---|---|---|
| State citation | RCW 59.18.255 | RCW 59.18.255 |
| Year enacted | 2018 | 2018 |
| Risk mitigation fund | Up to $5,000 per unit | Up to $5,000 per unit |
| Income multiple | Tenant portion only | Tenant portion only |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bellevue FAQ
Must I accept Section 8 vouchers?
Yes. RCW 59.18.255 makes refusal of any lawful source of income illegal statewide. You may still screen for credit and rental history under uniform standards.
Can I require three times rent in income?
Only against the tenant's portion of rent for voucher holders, not the full contract rent. Applying the multiplier to the gross rent is a discrimination violation under state law.
Federal Way FAQ
Must I accept Section 8 vouchers?
Yes. RCW 59.18.255 makes refusal of any lawful source of income illegal statewide. You may still screen for credit and rental history under uniform standards.
Can I require three times rent in income?
Only against the tenant's portion of rent for voucher holders, not the full contract rent. Applying the multiplier to the gross rent is a discrimination violation under state law.
Compare other topics
See how Bellevue and Federal Way compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool