Landlord/Property Manager Resources

Federal Fair Housing Law – Fair Housing pertains to Federal Laws that protect people from housing discrimination. All housing providers (including property owners, managers, and leasing agents) are subject to Fair Housing laws.

The City of Bellingham has codified certain aspects of tenants’ rights that will be enforced in the City in BMC 10.48.030. The City also provides regular trainings available to landlords, property owners, and tenants. General information on fair housing is also available on our website.

State Landlord-Tenant Law – The state Residential Landlord-Tenant Act creates the over-arching rules for the landlord-tenant relationship. The act defines rights and responsibilities of owners and tenants, identifies permitted elements in leases, and sets forth procedures for owners and tenants to assert their rights in court. The Washington State Bar Association’s brochure entitled Landlord-Tenant Rights clearly explains the key aspects of the state law.

The Landlord-Tenant Act (Sec. 59.18.060) details what standards must be maintained by the rental owner. This section (Sec. 59.18.115) identifies procedures that tenants need to follow to address health and safety issues in rentals.

City Ordinances to protect vulnerable renters – The City passed an Ordinance to Protect Vulnerable Renters, which adds additional protections beyond State and Federal Law that apply to all rental properties within the Bellingham City limits. This ordinance took effect in March 2018, and includes the following protections:

• Source of Income discrimination: A landlord may not refuse to rent to a tenant based on a tenant’s source of income, which includes public benefits or rental subsidies from federal, state, or local housing programs.
• *60-day Notice of Rent Increase: Landlords who wish to raise a tenant’s rent by ten percent or more must give a 60-day written notice of rent increase.
  • *Please note: BMC 6.12.020 regarding notice requirement has been amended by the Bellingham City Council. Amendments were made final on March 13, 2023, and become effective on March 28, 2023. Beginning March 28, 2023, 120-day advance notice is required for any rent increases for residential units. A news release and FAQs are available to describe this change. Until the March 28 effective date of the newly adopted ordinance, the 60-day notice requirements described above remain in place.
• 60-day Notice to Vacate: Landlords must give tenants a 60-day notice to terminate month-to-month tenancies without cause. If a tenant is otherwise in compliance with the terms of the lease, the landlord must provide written notice 60 days in advance for an eviction is to be enforceable.
• Note: the state has since passed a more restrictive law, which now requires that a landlord must give proper notice and can only terminate a lease for an acceptable cause. See RCW 59.18.650(2) for a list of acceptable reasons for terminating a residency.