Several King County cities, including Seattle, require hotels to retain incumbent workers for a transition period when the property changes hands, modeled on Seattle's Hotel Employees Health and Safety Initiative passed in 2016.
Seattle voters passed Initiative 124 in 2016, replaced and expanded by 2019 Council legislation under SMC chapters 14.25 through 14.28. Among other protections, hotels with 60 or more rooms must offer continued employment to incumbent workers for 90 days when ownership or operator changes. Workers cannot be terminated without cause during the transition, except for performance reasons. Unincorporated King County does not have a general retention rule, but covered hotels in Seattle, SeaTac, and other cities are subject to retention and other protections. State labor law preempts wage but not retention rules.
Failing to provide retention offers, retaliating against retained workers, or terminating without cause during the 90-day window can trigger lawsuits, back pay, reinstatement, and civil penalties under city wage and labor laws.
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...
See how Kent's hotel worker retention rules stack up against other locations.
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