Renton, WA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Tier III temporary use permit, $100 fee
- Location
- Religious institution property only
- Max residents
- 100 people
- Max duration
- 92 days including setup/teardown
- Repeat siting
- Not within 12 months at same site
- Setback
- 20 feet from residential property lines
- Site cleanup
- Debris/litter removed after use ends
Summary
Renton allows temporary homeless encampments only at religious institutions under a Tier III temporary use permit, capped at 100 residents and 92 days per site, with mandatory sanitation, waste and health compliance overseen by the Seattle-King County Health Department.
i. Compliance with Health and Safety Codes: The temporary homeless encampment shall comply with all applicable standards of the Seattle-King County Health Department, or its successor. The managing agency shall ensure compliance with Washington State and City codes concerning but not limited to drinking water connections, human waste, solid waste disposal, electrical systems, and fire-resistant materials. ... m. Duration and Frequency: Temporary homeless encampments may be approved for a time period not to exceed ninety two (92) days, including setup and dismantling of the encampment. A temporary homeless encampment may be located at the same site no more than once every twelve (12) months. ... P. REMOVAL OF TEMPORARY USE REQUIRED: Each site occupied by a temporary use shall be left free of debris, litter, or other evidence of the temporary use upon completion of removal of the use.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6197, passed August 10, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under RMC 4-9-240, a temporary homeless encampment is classified as a Tier III temporary use requiring a $100 application fee and Hearing Examiner approval after a public hearing. The encampment must sit on a religious institution's property, set back at least 20 feet from abutting residential property lines, and be screened by a 6-foot sight-obscuring fence or vegetative buffer. Exterior lighting must be directed downward and contained on site. The managing agency must comply with Seattle-King County Health Department standards and ensure compliance with state and city codes covering drinking water connections, human waste disposal, solid waste disposal, electrical systems and fire-resistant materials, and must allow regular inspections by Renton Police, Renton Fire, and King County Health.
A written code of conduct barring drugs, alcohol, concealed weapons without a permit, threatening behavior, open flames and neighborhood loitering must be enforced by the managing agency, which must also maintain a resident sign-in log with verifiable ID. An encampment runs no more than 92 days including setup and teardown, and the same site cannot host another encampment for 12 months after the prior one ends, measured from its last day. Before applying, the sponsor must hold an informal public meeting (10 days' notice) and confer with any school or licensed child care operator within 600 feet.
Separately, RMC 4-9-240P requires that any site used for a temporary use, including an encampment, be left free of debris, litter, or other evidence of the use once it is removed.
Violations & Fines
The Administrator may revoke a temporary use permit on 10 days' written notice if the application information was false or incomplete, conditions changed, or the encampment operates differently than approved, is a nuisance, unhealthy, unsafe or poses a substantial risk of harm; an emergency allows immediate revocation. The managing agency's failure to act against a resident who breaks the written code of conduct can itself trigger cancellation. Revocation decisions may be appealed to Renton's Hearing Examiner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Renton can a homeless encampment legally operate?
How long can a temporary encampment stay in one place?
What sanitation standards must the encampment meet?
What happens to the site once the encampment leaves?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Renton
Compare Renton to another location·View the Washington homelessness & encampment rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Encampment Sanitation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle encampment sanitation.