Seattle Housing Authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), and SMC 14.08 requires Seattle landlords to accept them on equal terms with other lawful income, banning Section 8 refusals and pretextual screening barriers.
Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) issues Housing Choice Vouchers covering tenants paying roughly 30% of income while SHA pays the balance up to a Payment Standard. Under SMC 14.08, landlords cannot post 'no Section 8,' refuse to sign the HAP contract, demand higher deposits, or impose income tests on the subsidized portion. Units must pass an HQS inspection, and landlords receive monthly direct deposit. Initial leases run twelve months, with month-to-month renewal protected by Just Cause Eviction. The Mayor's Move to Opportunity bonus offers landlord incentives in higher-opportunity neighborhoods.
Refusing a voucher, delaying the HAP contract, or imposing voucher-specific deposits can lead to SOCR civil penalties, mandatory acceptance orders, fair housing training, restitution to the applicant, and attorney fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Seattle, WA
Seattle's Land Use Code allows residential lawn ornaments, statuary, and yard art without permits provided structures do not exceed accessory-structure heigh...
Seattle, WA
Seattle does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. Standard Noise Ordinance (SMC 25.08) limits apply to blower-motor noise...
Seattle, WA
Seattle has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance SMC 25.08 applies to any amplified ou...
Seattle, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Seattle require building permits from SDCI when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas piping, or a structural roof under Se...
Seattle, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Seattle are allowed at single-family homes but are subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section ...
Seattle, WA
Seattle Fire Code Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas containers larger than 1 lb on combustible balconies of multi-family buildi...
See how Seattle's section 8 voucher acceptance rules stack up against other locations.
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