Legislation marks progress towards affordability and transparency protections for renters
Seattle — Yesterday, Mayor Katie B. Wilson signed her landmark Rental Junk Fees legislation developed over months in close collaboration with Councilmember Dionne Foster. As part of her affordability agenda, Mayor Wilson transmitted this legislation in July and the Seattle City Council, in an 8-0 vote passed the rental junk fee legislation. The legislation—one of the strongest in the country—eliminates rental junk fees including administrative service fees, pet rent and package fees; requires clear, upfront pricing for tenants; and strengthens enforcement to support a predictable and equitable rental market.
“I am pleased to be signing this legislation to eliminate rental junk fees,” said Mayor Katie B. 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.”
Mayor Wilson spent months working directly with renters and in close collaboration with Councilmember Dionne Foster to develop legislation to eliminate junk fees. As both a policymaker and a renter, Wilson said she heard consistently about unexpected and rising fees that make housing even less affordable and predictable.
“I’m grateful for the close partnership of Councilmember Dionne Foster, City Attorney Erika Evans, the Stay Housed, Stay Healthy coalition, labor partners including SEIU 6, UAW 4121, Teamsters 117, UFCW 3000, and all the community partners who were instrumental in advancing these renter protections,” Mayor Wilson said.
“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 Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 9), chair of the Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee. “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.”
If landlords violate the junk fee ban, the City Attorney’s Office may take them to court and recover three times the amount of the illegal fees. The work across City leadership continues to advance the strong tenant protections Seattle is known for and positions the city to keep leading the nation.
What People are Saying
Erika Evans, Seattle City Attorney
“This ban on junk fees in rental housing provides tenants fairness and transparency. 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.”
Kate Rubin, Co-Executive Director of Be:Seattle
“People want a city where they can afford their homes, support their families, and have the stability to plan for the future. 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
“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. 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.”