The Latest News and Information on Washington State and City of Tacoma Tenant Protections
Effective May 10, 2021 the City of Tacoma's 60-day notice is no longer valid and Landlords must adhere to the State's "Just Cause" Eviction Requirement.
Rental Assistance Available for Tacoma and Pierce County Residents
Rental assistance is available for Tacoma and Pierce County residents who are behind on rent. More information and the application is available at piercecountywa.gov/housing.
Governor Jay Inslee Issues an Eviction "Bridge" Proclamation
Washington State, under the authority of Governor Jay Inslee, issued a “bridge” proclamation on June 24, 2021 between the eviction moratorium and the housing stability programs put in place by the Legislature. Governor extended the bridge October 30.
For more information about the Eviction Bridge and other Washington State measures to address the pandemic, visit coronavirus.wa.gov.
To file a complaint, visit the Attorney General’s page
Eviction Resolution Pilot Program
Pierce County tenants have an added protection through the State of Washington's Eviction Resolution Program. The program require landlords to undertake efforts to engage tenants in pre-filing resolution efforts including direct negotiation, facilitated conciliation services, and, upon agreement of both parties, formal mediation provided by the participating Dispute Resolution Centers. For more information visit the Washington State Courts page for more program information. To learn how to get started, visit the Center for Dialog and Resolution's web page.
Washington State Passes "Just Cause" Eviction
On May 10, 2021, the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18, RLTA) went from “No Cause” to a “Just Cause” requirement as it relates to termination of tenancy.
The City of Tacoma is currently updating the Rental Housing Code (TMC 1.95, RHC) to align with the state law and also add structure around shared housing. The Rental Housing Code is currently out of alignment with the RLTA, which limits our ability to enforce on violations. Currently, we only have the authority to enforce on violations associated with the landlords failure to distribute information to tenants, retaliation, and relocation assistance.