Since 2021, Washington's just-cause statute RCW 59.18.650 prohibits no-fault evictions of month-to-month tenants. Landlords in King County must cite one of sixteen enumerated causes such as nonpayment, lease violation, owner move-in, or substantial rehabilitation.
Washington passed statewide just-cause protection in 2021 (HB 1236), eliminating the prior practice of terminating a month-to-month tenancy with 20 days notice and no reason. Under RCW 59.18.650, landlords across King County must serve cause-specific notices: 14 days for nonpayment, 10 days for lease compliance issues, and 90 days with relocation assistance for owner move-in or substantial rehabilitation. Seattle's older Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (SMC 22.206.160) still applies in parallel and adds further procedural steps. End-of-fixed-term evictions also require cause; landlords cannot simply refuse to renew at lease end without one of the statutory grounds.
Serving an unsupported no-cause notice or refusing to renew a fixed-term lease without statutory cause exposes the landlord to dismissal of any unlawful detainer action, statutory damages, and attorney fees under RCW 59.18.650(8).
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...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kent's no-fault evictions rules stack up against other locations.
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