Renton, WA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

RMC 4-5-125.A explains that Renton created its rental program because 'there exists rental housing in the City that is below minimum building standards and could violate RCW 59.18.060 of the Landlord-Tenant Act,' and directs landlords to keep units 'in compliance with Chapter 59.18 RCW, the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.' RMC 4-5-125.C.9 folds the state's maintenance duties into local law by defining '"RCW 59.18.060 of the Landlord-Tenant Act" means, for the purposes of this Section, RCW 59.18.060(1) through (10), as currently enacted and hereinafter amended.' The City's own tool for measuring habitability is the 'residential rental checklist,' a form every landlord files at registration attesting under RMC 4-5-125.C.12 that each rental dwelling unit 'complies with RCW 59.18.060 of the Landlord-Tenant Act and does not present conditions that endanger or impair health or safety.' A false checklist is itself a violation, and RMC 4-5-125.E.1.a makes 'failure to comply with a requirement of this Section, of RCW 59.18.060 of the Landlord-Tenant Act, or both' an offense the City's Administrator, typically the Code Compliance Inspector or Building Official, can enforce.

Contested findings go to the Hearing Examiner within 15 days of the decision under RMC 4-5-125.E.3, and the ordinance notes that RCW 59.18.240(1) bars landlords from retaliating against a tenant who reports a habitability problem.