Washington's statewide minimum wage under RCW 49.46.020 is $16.66 per hour in 2026 with annual inflation adjustments; cities including Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Renton set higher local floors under their own ordinances.
Washington sets a statewide minimum wage under RCW 49.46.020, originally adopted by Initiative 688 in 1998 and raised by Initiative 1433 in 2016. The Department of Labor and Industries adjusts the wage each January based on the Consumer Price Index, reaching $16.66 per hour in 2026. Washington does not preempt cities from adopting higher floors, unlike many states. Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Renton set higher minimum wages by ordinance or initiative. Unincorporated King County uses the state minimum wage and has no separate local floor.
Paying below the applicable state or local minimum wage can trigger back pay, interest, double damages, and civil penalties under chapter 49.46 RCW, plus separate enforcement by city labor standards offices.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kent's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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