Bellevue, WA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 70°F, 3 ft above floor
- Banned heaters
- Unvented fuel-burning heaters
- Kitchen sink
- Required, no wood/absorbent material
- Outlets
- 2 per habitable room minimum
- Governing code
- BCC 23.22 Uniform Housing Code
- Enforcement
- Building official / health officer
Summary
Bellevue's Uniform Housing Code requires every dwelling unit, lodging house and congregate residence to have heating that holds 70°F at three feet above the floor in habitable rooms, bans unvented fuel-burning heaters, and requires safe, code-compliant electrical service with at least two outlets, or an outlet and a light fixture, in every habitable room.
A. Heating. Dwelling units, lodging houses, and congregate residences shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of 70°F (21.1°C) at a point three feet (914 mm) above the floor in all habitable rooms. Such facilities shall be installed and maintained in a safe condition and in accordance with the Building Code, the Mechanical Code and all other applicable laws. Unvented fuel-burning heaters are not permitted. All heating devices or appliances shall be of an approved type. B. Electrical Equipment. All electrical equipment, wiring and appliances shall be installed and maintained in a safe manner in accordance with all applicable laws, including the National Electrical Code. All electrical equipment shall be of an approved type. Where there is electrical power available within 300 feet (91,440 mm) of any building, such building shall be connected to such electrical power. Every habitable room shall contain at least two electrical convenience outlets or one convenience outlet and one electric light fixture.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020). 070 require every dwelling unit, lodging house and congregate residence to have bathroom facilities and a kitchen with a kitchen sink, banning wooden or similarly absorbent sinks, and require all plumbing fixtures to connect to an approved sewer or septic system and supply hot and cold running water. 090 set the numeric habitability floor: 70°F at three feet above the floor in every habitable room, safely installed equipment under the Building and Mechanical Codes, no unvented fuel-burning heaters, and a minimum of two convenience outlets (or one outlet plus a light fixture) per habitable room, with connection to available electrical power within 300 feet mandatory.
040: owners remain liable for chapter violations even where a lease assigns upkeep duties to a tenant, must keep the structure and shared areas safe and sanitary, and must furnish approved insect and rodent prevention devices; occupants must keep their own unit clean and dispose of waste per city health regulations approved by the health officer, defined as the director of Seattle-King County Public Health.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of the Uniform Housing Code is unlawful under BCC 23.22.060 and is treated as a civil violation under Chapter 1.18 BCC, carrying a monetary penalty and a possible abatement order against the responsible owner. Buildings or units found unsafe or unsanitary can separately be declared a public nuisance under BCC 23.22.050 and 23.22.120 and abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What minimum temperature must a Bellevue rental maintain?
Does a Bellevue rental have to have a kitchen sink?
Who is responsible for fixing habitability problems in a Bellevue rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle repairs & habitability.