Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program

Bellingham’s Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program is designed to ensure safe living conditions for tenants. Residential property owners in Bellingham must comply with specific life and fire safety standards per BMC 6.15 and are required to:

Rental property owners/managers who do not register a unit before renting it will be subject to financial penalties.

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Register or Renew a Rental

Find information on how to register a rental, registration fees, and learn what to expect during and immediately after you register.

Three houses along a neighborhood street.

Rental Registration Exemptions

While almost all residential rentals are required to be registered, there are some specific exceptions. Learn more about exemptions.

Aerial view of several houses in Bellingham with a vibrant green lawn in the foreground.

See Registered Rentals and Inspection Results

This dashboard shows all registered rental properties in Bellingham and safety inspection results. If you are unsure if the property you are searching for has been registered, email rentals@cob.org with the full property address.

A person in construction safety gear inspects the doorframe of a house.

Learn More about Safety Inspections

Find information about safety inspection requirements, fees, timelines, private inspections, what to expect during inspections, requirements for notifying tenants, and what happens if a rental fails inspection.

Landlord and Tenant Resources

Find Housing Laws and Rental Protections

Find out more about Fair Housing Laws, ordinances protecting vulnerable renters, and more, and what to do if you think a law has been broken.

Tenant and Landlord Support and Education

Find resources for resolving disputes, legal services, rent, utility, and home improvement assistance, and more.

Get Code Enforcement Support

Renters can get assistance from the City when basic life and safety issues are not addressed in a timely manner, and in reporting unregistered units.

Rental Health and Safety Resources

Find resources for mold and moisture problems, indoor air quality, fire safety tips, and relocation assistance due to substandard conditions.

Learn about Short-term Rental Requirements

Considering renting out your home short term, or renting out bedrooms? You may need a short-term rental license.

Rental Program and Protections News

City appoints inaugural Landlord and Tenant Advisory Work Group

September 3, 2026

On August 24, 2026, the City appointed its first ever limited-term Landlord and Tenant Advisory Work Group to create more opportunities to hear from people who rent and people who manage rentals.

New rental protections go into effect Sept. 7

August 26, 2026

Bellingham City Council gives final approval for updated rental protections.

Inside Bellingham: July 23, 2026

July 23, 2026

Children’s craft fairs, new rental registration dashboard, and Cornwall Memorial Park restoration: A news roundup from the City of Bellingham

Inside Bellingham: June 11, 2026

June 11, 2026

Home share, Landlord Tenant Advisory Group, tourism grants, Juneteenth flag raising, and more: A news roundup from the City of Bellingham

See Rental News

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Contact Us

For questions about the Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program, call 1-360-778-8361 or email rentals@cob.org

Looking for a safer, easier way to rent a spare room?

The City of Bellingham is offering a new Home Sharing Program that helps connect homeowners with extra bedrooms in their homes with good-fit renters, providing much needed long-term housing options to the community in exchange for rent and, sometimes, chores.