Burien, WA Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)

BMC 5.62.070(1) puts every rental property subject to Chapter 5.62 on a three-year inspection cycle, tied to the assigned zone where the property sits. A qualified rental housing inspector, a private professional approved by the Community Development Director, performs the inspection and signs the certificate of inspection. The credentials listed in BMC 5.62.030(13) include American Association of Code Enforcement or International Code Council property maintenance and housing inspector certification, an ICC Residential Building Code Inspector credential, or a Washington State-licensed home inspector. The city cannot require a certificate more often than once every three years, consistent with RCW 59.18.125, and a rental property that received a certificate of occupancy within the last four years with no reported code violations is exempt from inspection.

Sampling limits protect owners of larger buildings. At a property with 20 or fewer rental units, the city can select no more than four units. At a property with 21 or more units, the city can select no more than 20 percent of the units, rounded up to the next whole number, up to a maximum of 50 units. Both caps hold only as long as the initial inspection reveals no condition that endangers or impairs the health or safety of a tenant. If a selected unit fails the initial inspection, the city can require up to 100 percent of the units to be certified, and the same 100 percent step is available when endangering conditions have been reported at the property since the last required inspection.

The certificate must rest on a physical inspection done not more than 90 days before the certificate date. The owner or landlord must send written notice of the inspection to every unit at the property. Chapter 5.62 does not apply to single-family residences, condominiums and townhomes, mobile homes, or accessory dwelling units (BMC 5.62.040(1)). Where the chapter conflicts with another Burien code provision, the more restrictive provision applies (BMC 5.62.020).