Auburn, WA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

The City of Auburn does not operate a general rental registration or periodic inspection program for residential rentals, unlike Seattle's Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance or Burien's rental business program. Auburn City Code Title 5 (Business Licenses and Regulations) requires a general Auburn business license for persons engaging in business activity within the city, which typically captures professional property managers and larger rental operators. Individual owners renting out a single home or a small number of units may or may not need a business license depending on the scale and type of operation and should confirm with Auburn Finance at 253-931-3033. State law, primarily RCW 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act), governs all residential landlord-tenant relationships in Auburn including rental agreements, security deposits, required disclosures, habitability standards, and eviction procedures. Auburn Code Enforcement responds to habitability complaints under the International Property Maintenance Code adopted in ACC Title 15, with civil penalties available for unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Landlords must provide working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with RCW 19.27.530 and federal lead-based paint disclosures for buildings constructed before 1978. Rent control and rent stabilization are preempted statewide by RCW 35.21.830, so neither Auburn nor King or Pierce County can cap rent increases. Washington requires 60 days written notice for most rent increases.