RENTAL HOUSING AGENCIES

SEA-MC tit. 6, subtit. IV, ch. 6.222

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.222.010 Definitions.

6.222.010 - Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter: A. "Customer" means any prospective tenant contracting with a rental agency for the performance of such agency's services. B. "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administrative Services of the City. C. "Director" means the Director of Finance and Administrative Services of the City or any authorized representative of the Director. D. "Housing accommodation" or "accommodations" includes any dwelling or dwelling unit, rooming unit, rooming house, lot or parcel of land which is used, intended to be used, or arranged or designed to be used as, or improved with, a residential structure for one or more human beings. E. "Landlord" means the owner of a housing accommodation or other persons authorized or empowered to rent such housing accommodation to others. F. "Rental agency" means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, company, society, association, or other group or organization whether organized for profit or nonprofit, who for compensation from the prospective tenant, collects, offers, and/or distributes information as to housing accommodations, without substantially participating as an intermediary in negotiation of rents, terms, conditions, or other provisions of individual leases or rental agreements or entering into rental agreements on behalf of or representing the prospective tenant. (Ord. 123361, § 221, 2010; Ord. 120794, § 176, 2002; Ord. 120181, § 103, 2000; Ord. 118397, § 90, 1996; Ord. 117169, § 102, 1994; Ord. 109763, § 2, 1981; Ord. 108934, § 11.020, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.222.020 License—Expiration date.

6.222.020 - License—Expiration date. Rental agency licenses issued under this chapter shall expire and may be renewed annually on the last day of February. (Ord. 109763, § 2, 1981; Ord. 108934, § 11.024, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.222.030 License—Required.

6.222.030 - License—Required. It is unlawful for any person within the City to engage in the business of a rental agency, solicit business for a rental agency, or advertise the services of a rental agency doing business in Seattle without first obtaining a rental agency license issued in accordance with the provisions of this code. (Ord. 109763, § 2, 1981; Ord. 108934, § 11.030, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.222.040 Unlawful acts.

6.222.040 - Unlawful acts. It is unlawful for any rental agency or any agent thereof to: A. List or advertise any housing accommodation or otherwise offer or provide information about any housing accommodation without the prior written consent of the landlord; or B. Refer any customer to or list any housing accommodation which is and has been unavailable for rental for the three (3) days immediately preceding the date of the referral; or C. Use any contract or furnish any receipt to any customer or prospective customer which does not disclose in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Director all material information regarding the services to be provided by the rental agency to said customer; or D. Require any customer to pay a fee or charge prior to such customer entering into a rental agreement or lease for a housing accommodation obtained from the rental agency; or E. Publish or cause to be published any advertisement for a particular housing accommodation without including in the advertisement a page, line, or other code number through which the particular housing accommodation can be easily located in the rental agency's listing records. (Ord. 109763, § 2, 1981; Ord. 108934, § 11.140, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.222.050 Financial responsibility.

6.222.050 - Financial responsibility. Each applicant for a rental agency license shall submit to the Director for filing with the City Clerk a surety bond of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) naming himself or herself and all his or her agents as principals, and conditioned as provided by the general provisions of Chapter 6.202. (Ord. 116368, § 194, 1992; Ord. 109763, § 2, 1981; Ord. 108934, §11.150, 1980.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 6.222.060 Records and reports.

6.222.060 - Records and reports. Every rental agency licensee shall keep and make available to customers an accurate listing of all housing accommodations to which customers are or may be referred, which shall include at least the following information for each housing accommodation: A. The type of unit (e.g., duplex, triplex, fourplex, or multiplex); B. Whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished; C. The date when the unit will be available; D. The date when the housing accommodation was most recently entered on the agency's listing records; E. The date when the housing accommodation was last verified by the agency to be available for rent; F. The address of the housing accommodation; G. The name, address and telephone number of the landlord; H. The monthly rent required by the landlord; I. The amount and purpose of any damage, cleaning, rent or other deposit or prepayment required by the landlord; J. The number and types of rooms; K. Whether a written lease is required and, if so, the minimum term required by the landlord; L. Any restrictions as to pets, furnishings, or number of occupants permitted by the Seattle Municipal Code, Title 14, Chapter 8, or activities imposed by the landlord. (Ord. 109673, § 2, 1981; Ord. 108934, § 11.200, 1980.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.222REHOAGFetched: 11/1/2026