Some cities and counties have stronger protections for renters

This guide outlines renter protections in some cities and counties that are stronger than Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), RCW 59.18.

Some common city and county tenant protections include: 

Late fees 

RCW 59.18.170 prohibits landlords from charging late fees until the rent is more than 5 days late. There is no statewide cap on late fees. However, some cities and counties have caps on late fees and bans on notice service fees.

Caps on move-in costs

Move-in costs often include deposits, non-refundable fees, and last month’s rent. There is no cap on the amount of move-in costs under RCW 59.18.610.

Fees or deposits to hold a rental unit (holding fees) do not count as “move-in costs” but cannot be more than 25% of first month’s rent. RCW 59.18.253(3).

Some cities and counties do cap the amount of move-in costs.

Rent increase notice times

RCW 59.18.140(3)(a) requires landlords to send a notice of rent increase to tenants 60 days before the rent increase goes into effect. Exception: In subsidized tenancies where the tenant’s portion of rent changes based on income or household, landlords can send rent increase notices 30 days before they go into effect. RCW 59.18.140(3)(b).

Many local laws provide more notice time for rent increases, sometimes 120 or 180 days.

Rent increase bans when repairs are needed

Some cities prohibit landlords from raising the rent or evicting a tenant if the rental unit has habitability issues ("defective conditions" or conditions that "endanger or impair health and safety.")

Usually, the ordinances required the tenant to notify the landlord in writing about the conditions for the ban on rent increases to be in effect.

Rental unit registration and inspection

Many cities required landlords to register their rental units with the city, have a rental business license or both. Some cities required rental unit health and safety inspections or conduct many inspections of the rental units every year.