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.
Kirkland, WA
Leaf blowers and power equipment are restricted to 8 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on weekends and holidays under KMC 11.84A. Kirkland has not adopted...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland sits about 20 miles north of Sea-Tac and is lightly affected by commercial flights. Kenmore Air seaplanes and Renton Municipal general aviation caus...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban, but enforces the 72-hour rule, signed residential permit zones, and no-parking signs at parks, tra...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland driveways must remain paved, accessible, and used for vehicle parking per KMC Title 115 zoning code, which limits front-yard paving and requires app...
Kirkland, WA
EV charging in Kirkland follows the Washington State Energy Code, which requires EV-ready capacity in new multifamily and commercial parking and protects pub...
Kirkland, WA
Under KZC 115.40, Kirkland fences may be up to 6 feet except within 15 feet of a street curb. Properties on a neighborhood access or collector street are cap...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kirkland's relocation assistance rules stack up against other locations.
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