Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and King County tenant-protection ordinances require landlords to pay relocation assistance when displacing tenants for substantial rehabilitation, demolition, or change of use, with amounts varying by city and tenant income level.
RCW 59.18.440 authorizes cities to require relocation assistance for low-income tenants displaced by code-enforcement-driven closures. Seattle's Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (SMC 22.210) requires landlords to pay $4,553 (2026 figure) per qualifying tenant household for displacements due to demolition, substantial rehab, or change of use, split with the city. Unincorporated King County does not impose a separate relocation payment but does enforce RCW 59.18.085 protections for tenants displaced by condemnation. Tenants must receive at least 120 days written notice in Seattle, 90 days under state law, before the displacement event.
Failing to pay relocation assistance or provide proper notice exposes landlords to double the assistance amount, attorney fees, and an injunction halting the displacing project until compliance is achieved.
Auburn, WA
Auburn applies WAC 173-60 EDNA limits through ACC 8.28. Residential: 55 dBA day, 45 dBA night. Industrial receiving: 60 dBA day, 50 dBA night. Measured at th...
Auburn, WA
Industrial sources into residential zones are capped at 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night under WAC 173-60 via ACC 8.28. The Boeing Auburn plant and Valley warehou...
Auburn, WA
Federal law preempts local aircraft noise. Auburn Municipal Airport follows FAA Part 150 and Sea-Tac overflights are under FAA and Port of Seattle. ACC 8.28 ...
Auburn, WA
Outdoor concerts and festivals must meet ACC 8.28 limits and often need a special event permit. Downtown Auburn and Les Gove Park events follow a written noi...
Auburn, WA
Auburn restricts RV, trailer, and boat parking on public streets to 72 hours and sets additional limits on driveway and front-yard storage of recreational ve...
Auburn, WA
EV charging in Auburn follows the Washington State Energy Code, which requires EV-ready capacity in new multifamily and commercial parking and protects publi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Auburn's relocation assistance rules stack up against other locations.
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