Full legislation text here: [https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8135103&GUID=8C1A5166-A0FD-495C-A90A-F04339929D7D&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=RENTAL&FullText=1](https://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8135103&GUID=8C1A5166-A0FD-495C-A90A-F04339929D7D&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=RENTAL&FullText=1)

Seattle City Council passed CB 121254 on 8/11/2026 (recorded as "Passed at Full Council" — mayoral signature/ordinance number still pending as of this writing). It targets rental junk fees, which a 2023 National Consumer Law Center study found 89% of renters nationally pay on top of rent. Effective date: July 1, 2027 (applies to leases signed/renewed on or after that date — not retroactive to current leases).

# TL;DR

* Landlords must show the full all-in price before you sign anything
* A bunch of common fees are now flat-out banned
* "Optional" fees require real opt-in/opt-out
* You can sue for 2x the fee + damages + attorney fees
* City can investigate landlords building-wide, not just one complaint at a time



# 🚫 Fees now banned (can't be charged at all)

* Using in-unit appliances or building amenities (gym, rooftop, etc.)
* Just accessing common areas
* Paying by check / money order / ACH
* Mail or package handling
* Landlord doing something they're already legally required to do
* Adding/removing a tenant from the lease
* Any "pet fee" beyond an actual damage deposit
* Certain landlord-provided insurance add-ons (unless specific disclosures are met)

A few exceptions apply: appliance-fee ban excludes portable AC/cooling unit rentals; common-area fee ban excludes temporary exclusive use (e.g. renting a clubhouse for an event); the tenant add/remove-fee ban excludes normal screening fees.

# 📋 New disclosure requirements

* Full price breakdown required in the listing/ad and before page 1 of the lease
* Max 2-page disclosure form, refreshed annually
* Must show: rent, discounts, utilities you owe, all fees, and one bottom-line total

# ✅ "Optional" fees only count if:

* You affirmatively opt in in writing
* You can opt out anytime, no penalty
* Bundled add-ons (e.g. "tech fee" = cable + internet) must also be sold separately

# ⚖️ Enforcement / what you can do about a violation

* Private lawsuit: actual damages + interest, double the illegal fee, an added penalty (double the citation amount, so another $1,500–$3,000), plus attorney's fees
* Landlords get a 30-day out on first offense: if they're notified of a violation, fix it within 30 days, and fully repay + double-pay every affected tenant in the building, they have a legal defense against your suit for that fee — unless they get caught doing the same thing again within 24 months, in which case no defense
* Illegal lease clauses alone (even without charging you) can mean up to $4,000 in liability to the landlord
* City penalties: $750 (1st violation) → $1,500 (repeat) → $5,000 (retaliation)
* City can investigate an entire building or company at once
* If you're facing eviction for unpaid rent, illegal fees you were charged get subtracted from the rent claimed against you



# What to actually do

Now: Save your current lease + any fee receipts as a paper trail. After 7/1/2027: Demand the 2-page disclosure form before signing. Any fee not on the permitted list = red flag. Report violations to Seattle's rental agency — building-wide complaints hit harder. If overcharged, you can sue directly; note the landlord has a 30-day window to self-correct and avoid your suit on a first offense, so a written notice is often the first real step, not straight to court. (The law's attorney-fee-shifting provision may make contingency representation more available, but that's not something the bill itself guarantees.)

To file complaints with the city, use this link: [https://services.seattle.gov/Portal/Customization/SEATTLE/Welcome.aspx](https://services.seattle.gov/Portal/Customization/SEATTLE/Welcome.aspx)

**Caveat:** City of Seattle law only — doesn't apply outside city limits. Check [https://openlease.rentals/](https://openlease.rentals/) to see if your rental location is within city limits and would apply under this new law.

Seattle Votes to ban "Junk Fees" imposed by Landlords