Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and Seattle's Renting in Seattle ordinance prohibit landlord harassment of tenants, including utility shutoffs, lockouts, repeated entry without notice, and threats designed to force a tenant to vacate.
RCW 59.18.290 makes it unlawful for a landlord to remove a tenant by force, change locks, shut off heat, electricity, water, or gas, or remove the tenant's belongings without a court order. RCW 59.18.150 limits landlord entry to reasonable times with at least 48 hours written notice for inspections and 24 hours for repairs. Seattle's anti-harassment ordinance (SMC 22.206.180) goes further, banning verbal threats, false statements about immigration status, and discriminatory steering, with civil penalties up to $11,000 per violation. King County's unincorporated areas rely on the state statute. Tenants may sue for actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000, and attorney fees.
Self-help eviction, utility shutoff, repeated unauthorized entry, or coercive threats violate RCW 59.18.290 and expose landlords to actual damages, $1,000 statutory damages per violation, and attorney fees in superior court actions.
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way permits construction under WAC 173-60.050 exemptions between 7 AM and 10 PM. Sunday work near homes is typically restricted. Work outside the win...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way prohibits dogs that bark or howl continuously and disturb neighbors under FWRC Title 9. Typical threshold is 20 minutes of continuous noise. Comp...
Federal Way, WA
Outdoor music events in Federal Way need a special event permit on public property or when amplified beyond neighborhood levels. Receiving limits at residenc...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way limits on-street RV and boat trailer parking to 72 hours. In residential zones, RVs on private property must be parked on a paved or gravel surfa...
Federal Way, WA
Federal Way follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at the Transit C...
Federal Way, WA
Under RCW 46.55, Federal Way police can tag and tow a vehicle left on a public street for more than 72 hours. On private property, owners follow state impoun...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Federal Way's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
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