Burien, WA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- Business license under Chapter 5.05 BMC
- Declaration of compliance
- Required for each rental unit before issuance
- Penalty, first 10 days
- $100.00 per day
- Penalty after 10 days
- $250.00 per day
- Fee adjustment
- Annual Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-U adjustment from January 1, 2021
- Appeal path
- BMC 5.05.150, after denial or revocation
Summary
In the City of Burien, Washington, rental housing is licensed through a Burien business license under Chapter 5.05 BMC. BMC 5.62.040(2) makes the license a condition of operation and calls it a privilege, not a right. Operating without one costs $100.00 per day for the first 10 days and $250.00 per day afterward.
(2) Business License Required. As a condition of operation, each and every owner or landlord renting or leasing a residential housing unit within the city limits shall, in accordance with Chapter 5.05 BMC, obtain and maintain a business license. The issuance of such a license shall be considered a privilege and not an absolute right, and the possession of such license shall not entitle the owner or landlord to a new business license for subsequent years. ... (b) Penalty for Not Obtaining Business License. In addition to the penalties set forth in Chapter 5.05 BMC, there shall be assessed a penalty of $100.00 per day for each day that a residential housing unit operates without a valid and current business license for the first 10 days of noncompliance with this chapter, and $250.00 per day for each day after 10 calendar days of noncompliance with this chapter.
Full Breakdown
BMC 5.62.040(2) requires each owner or landlord renting or leasing a residential housing unit within the Burien city limits to obtain and maintain a business license under Chapter 5.05 BMC. The Burien City Council wrote the license as a privilege and not an absolute right, and holding one this year does not entitle the owner or landlord to a new license for subsequent years.
The application runs through the Business Licensing Service before the owner commences business in the city (BMC 5.05.100(1)). License fees are set by separate resolution of the city council (BMC 5.05.110), and BMC 5.62.050(1) ties the license period to BMC 5.05.160. Beginning January 1, 2021, and each year thereafter, the fee is adjusted by the June to June Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-U, calculated to the nearest cent, and affected businesses are notified by November 1st of the year preceding the adjustment. The city fee is nonrefundable unless the city manager or designee determines that a refund is in the best interests of the city (BMC 5.05.100(2)).
Two conditions attach to the rental license. The applicant must supply a valid declaration of compliance addressing each rental unit in the rental property before the license is issued (BMC 5.62.040(2)(d)), and information about the rental housing and safety inspection program must be posted inside each unit or in a common area (BMC 5.62.040(2)(c)). The exemptions in BMC 5.62.040(1) cover single-family residences, condominiums and townhomes, mobile homes, accessory dwelling units and several other categories. Hotels, motels, short-term rentals, shelters and transitional housing fall under different code sections.
Violations & Fines
Operating a rental without a valid and current business license adds a penalty of $100.00 per day for the first 10 days of noncompliance and $250.00 per day for each day after 10 calendar days, on top of Chapter 5.05 BMC penalties (BMC 5.62.040(2)(b)). A rental license can be denied or revoked for failing to obtain a certificate of inspection, fraud, unpaid fees, or a Chapter 1.15 BMC code violation (BMC 5.62.060(1)). Denials and revocations can be appealed under BMC 5.05.150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Burien landlords need a business license?
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Can Burien revoke a rental business license?
Sources & Official References
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