King County Tenant Ordinance
King County (Seattle) adds these tenant protections on top of Washington landlord-tenant law — applies Unincorporated King County only (not cities such as Seattle, Bellevue, Kent).
Law: King County tenant protections (Ordinance 19311, 2021; King County Code ch. 12.25)
| Just cause for eviction | Landlord needs a listed cause to terminate or not renew; written notice required before filing. Nonpayment of rent: 30-day notice; owner/family move-in or sale of single-family home: 90 days; substantial rehab, demolition or condo conversion: 120 days. Source: KCC 12.25.030(A) |
|---|---|
| Rent increase notice | 120 days' notice for increases over 3%; 30 days for income-based rent. No increase while unit has uninhabitable/defective conditions. Source: KCC 12.25.070; 12.25.100 |
| Move-in fees and deposits | Move-in fees plus security deposit capped at one month's rent (except income-based rent); payable in installments (6 monthly for leases of 6+ months, 2 for shorter/month-to-month). Source: KCC 12.25.050 |
| Late fees | Late fees/costs for nonpayment capped at 1.5% of monthly rent. Source: KCC 12.25.060 |
| Screening | Landlord may not require a Social Security number (may request one). Source: KCC 12.25.140 |
| Standardized eviction notices | Ordinance 19311 requires the King County Executive to develop standardized eviction notices for landlords to use when terminating a tenancy. Source: Ordinance 19311 |
County-level rules for unincorporated areas; city ordinances (e.g. Seattle) are separate.
← Eviction in King County (Seattle)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.