Under the Tacoma Renter Protections Ordinance (TMC 1.95, 2023), tenants displaced by large rent increases or no-fault terminations may qualify for relocation assistance funded by the landlord.
TMC 1.95 requires landlords to pay relocation assistance when a tenant chooses to leave after a rent increase above a defined threshold or is displaced for no-fault reasons such as substantial renovation or owner move-in. The amount typically scales to two or three months of rent depending on circumstances, with longer notice periods for larger increases. Tenants must follow specific written-notice procedures to claim the benefit, and the city's Rental Housing program publishes forms and timelines. The protections supplement statewide just-cause rules under RCW 59.18.650.
Failure to pay relocation assistance owed under TMC 1.95 can void termination notices, expose landlords to civil damages, and trigger administrative penalties from the Rental Housing program.
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma renters are protected by statewide just-cause eviction rules under HB 1236 (2021), codified in RCW 59.18.650, plus enhanced local protections in the T...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma cannot adopt traditional rent control because Washington state law RCW 35.21.830 preempts cities and counties from regulating the amount of rent on pr...
See how Tacoma's relocation assistance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.