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Tacoma City Council Passes Rental Housing Code
On November 20, 2018, the Tacoma City Council passed the Rental Housing Code providing protections for tenants and specific guidance to landlords who operate residential rental businesses in Tacoma. The Rental Housing Code also includes a provision for housing relocation assistance to qualifying tenants and allows the City to investigate complaints and enforce the code.
Learn more about the Rental Housing Code at Informational Sessions
The City of Tacoma is hosting community information meetings to help landlords and tenants better understand the new Rental Housing Code (TMC 1.95) and its requirements.
Please join us at one of the meetings listed below.
- Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (3629 S. D. Street, Tacoma, WA 98418)
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
- Saturday, January 19, 2019
Peace Community Center (2106 S. Cushman Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405)
9 AM to noon
- Thursday, January 24, 2019
Asian Pacific Cultural Center (4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA 98409)
6 PM to 8 PM
- Thursday, January 31, 2019
Family Investment Center at Salishan (1724 East 44th Street, Tacoma, WA 98404)
6 PM to 8 PM
For additional information, view and/or download the flyer.
New Requirements for Landlords:
- 120-day notice to vacate and relocation assistance for low-income tenants when a landlord intends to change the use, substantially rehabilitate, or demolish a dwelling unit
- 60-day notice to vacate for no-cause termination of tenancy
- 60-day notice requirement for rent increases
- A requirement that landlords distribute information about tenant rights as well as landlord and tenant responsibilities
New Tenant Protections:
- Prohibits retaliation against tenants for exercising their rights under the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18, RLTA)
- Allows installment payments for various deposits and fees
- Codification of relocation assistance when the City declares a building uninhabitable
- Provides relocation assistance for qualifying termination of tenancy of low-income tenants
- Allows tenants to file a complaint and for the City of Tacoma to investigate and enforce the code
Does this Ordinance apply to me?
If you own, operate or rent residential rental property within the Tacoma city limits, the Rental Housing Code applies to you. Verify if your rental property is within the Tacoma city limits.
We Want to Hear from You
In order to track the impact of the Rental Housing Code, we are asking housing providers to come online and take our survey. The link to our survey will be posted here when it is available. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Frequently Asked Questions