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.
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way permits construction under WAC 173-60.050 exemptions between 7 AM and 10 PM. Sunday work near homes is typically restricted. Work outside the win...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way prohibits dogs that bark or howl continuously and disturb neighbors under FWRC Title 9. Typical threshold is 20 minutes of continuous noise. Comp...
Federal Way, WA
Outdoor music events in Federal Way need a special event permit on public property or when amplified beyond neighborhood levels. Receiving limits at residenc...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way limits on-street RV and boat trailer parking to 72 hours. In residential zones, RVs on private property must be parked on a paved or gravel surfa...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at the Transit C...
Federal Way, WA
Under RCW 46.55, Federal Way police can tag and tow a vehicle left on a public street for more than 72 hours. On private property, owners follow state impoun...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Federal Way's relocation assistance rules stack up against other locations.
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