By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle renters will receive new protections against a range of additional housing charges under legislation signed into law last week by Mayor Katie Wilson that bans many so-called rental junk fees and requires landlords to provide clearer information about the total cost of renting a home.
The law, which takes effect July 1, 2027, prohibits landlords from charging fees that are not specifically permitted under the ordinance. Among the prohibited charges are pet fees, pet screening fees, administrative fees, package and mail fees, common-area fees, technology fees, month-to-month fees, lease-signing fees, valet garbage fees and lease-renewal fees.
The Seattle City Council approved the legislation in an 8-0 vote in August after Wilson transmitted the proposal to the council in July. Councilmember Dionne Foster, Position 9, chair of the Housing, Arts and Civil Rights Committee, sponsored the legislation at the council.
“I am pleased to be signing this legislation to eliminate rental junk fees,” said Wilson. “Junk fees have been a constant source of unnecessary stress for renters across Seattle, and their removal will provide much-needed peace of mind. This is one fewer burden for residents navigating rising costs and represents a significant step towards making Seattle an affordable city for working families and their pets.”
Under the new law, landlords will also be required to disclose monthly rent, mandatory and optional fees, utilities, discounts or concessions and estimated average total monthly costs in rental advertisements, listings and applications. The requirements are intended to allow prospective tenants to see a more complete estimate of housing costs before entering into a lease.
Not every charge beyond monthly rent will be prohibited. Permitted charges include certain move-in costs, security and pet deposits within established limits, utility charges, parking, tenant-caused damage, air conditioner rentals and late fees, which are capped at $10 per month. Landlords may also charge for certain optional services if tenants affirmatively opt in and are given a way to opt out without additional cost.
According to the city, the additional fees targeted by the legislation can add between 10% and 30% to a tenant’s base rent.
Wilson, who is also a renter, said conversations with residents helped shape the proposal. Her administration worked with Foster on the legislation, while City Attorney Erika Evans’ office will have a role in enforcing the new law.
Foster framed the legislation as a consumer protection measure designed to give renters a clearer understanding of their housing costs.
“It was an honor to sponsor Seattle’s Rental Junk Fee Legislation, and I’m grateful to my colleagues, Mayor Wilson and her team, and the community leaders who worked collaboratively to make this consumer protection bill a reality,” said Foster. “At a time when finding and maintaining stable housing is already a significant challenge for so many families, renters shouldn’t have to navigate a maze of hidden costs just to understand what their housing will actually cost them. This legislation helps level the playing field and gives renters the transparency they need to make informed choices. Simply put: the biggest bill in your monthly budget shouldn’t come with the biggest surprise.”
The ordinance includes several avenues for enforcement. Beginning July 1, 2027, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections will have enforcement authority. The City Attorney’s Office and tenants may also file lawsuits to enforce the ordinance.
If landlords violate the fee restrictions, the City Attorney’s Office may take them to court and seek recovery of up to three times the amount of the illegal fees charged.
“This ban on junk fees in rental housing provides tenants fairness and transparency,” said Evans. “This legislation also protects good and responsible landlords by banning deceptive practices by their competitors. When bad actors break the rules by cutting corners or avoiding transparency, we will hold them accountable in court.”
Tenant advocates who supported the legislation praised its passage and enforcement provisions.
“People want a city where they can afford their homes, support their families, and have the stability to plan for the future,” said Kate Rubin, co-executive director of Be:Seattle. “Banning rental junk fees will give Seattle renters more predictability and control over their housing costs. We’re energized by what our communities and elected leaders are accomplishing together, and excited for what comes next.”
Lam Ho, general manager of the Transit Riders Union, pointed to both the disclosure requirements and the ability of renters to enforce their rights under the ordinance.
“By ensuring real transparency and comprehensively banning junk fees, Seattle, under the leadership of Mayor Wilson and Councilmember Foster, is standing with renters in passing this precedent-setting bill that shifts power back where it belongs: in the hands of renters,” said Ho. “As both an organizer, and a tenants-rights attorney who has seen how renters struggle in housing court, I deeply appreciate how the ordinance provides the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any WA renter protections, and just as importantly, practical opportunities for renters to self-advocate for their rights.”
For renters with existing leases that contain fees prohibited under the new ordinance, landlords may continue charging those fees until the end of the existing lease term or July 1, 2027, whichever comes later. New rental agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2027, will be subject to the new restrictions and disclosure requirements.
