Register or Renew a Rental

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

How to Register a Rental

There are three ways for property owners and/or property management agencies to register a property. While almost all residential rentals are required to be registered, there are some specific exceptions. Learn more about exemptions.

Register your rental online in one of two ways:

Preferred: EZ Online Application

This is the easiest registration option as you do not need to create an account to use this form. However, if you use this form, you will not gain access to our online rental license management portal. To gain access, you will need to create your eTRAKiT account.

Online Registration Form

eTRAKiT

By registering using eTRAKiT, you will also gain access to our online rental license management portal. You will need to create an account to use eTRAKiT. Fees cannot be paid through the eTRAKiT system.

Register by Mail or Hand Deliver

This PDF version of the rental license application and can be downloaded, filled in, and mailed in or hand delivered to the Permit Center.

If your rental being handled by a property management agency, you have the option of selecting them to receive invoices, inspection correspondences and applicable certificates to prove compliance with the program. To do so, enter the name of the Property Management Agency in the applicant section of the form. This will set the agency as the primary contact for the specified rental units.

Safety Inspections Required Before Renting

Before you can begin renting your property, the unit must be inspected by a City or qualified private safety inspector.

How to Renew a License and Pay a Fee

Watch for a Renewal Notice

Each year, you will need to renew your license by paying the renewal fee. We send out renewal invoices via mail and email (if you have a current email address on file) at least six weeks prior to the end of the year. You can make a payment after receiving your invoice.

How to Pay Online

Visit www.cob.org/arpay and, enter your customer number from the invoice. If an invoice was not received, email rentals@cob.org to acquire your customer number. Follow the prompts to make a payment by credit card.

How to Pay in Person or Mail

Fees can be paid with check, cash, money order, or credit card to the City of Bellingham – 210 Lottie Street; Bellingham, WA 98225. Please make checks payable to: “City of Bellingham Finance Director” and reference your license # or rental address when submitting payment.

Registration and Renewal Costs

$20/unit (for properties with 1-20 units on a single parcel)
$16/unit (for properties with 21+ units on a single parcel).
If a payment is late, it may be subject to late fees and other penalties.

Registration and Renewal Deadlines

The registration fee is due at the time of registration.

After that, a renewal fee is due by December 31 of each calendar year, regardless of the month the application was received. For example: If a new Rental Registration is submitted in March 2022, that license is valid until December 31, 2022 – it must be renewed by December 31, 2022 to be valid for 2023.

The City sends out invoices about six weeks prior to the end of the year. After you receive the invoice, you can complete your annual renewal.

All Program Fees

Review the program fee schedule for a complete list of additional charges for late payments, missed appointments and safety re-inspections.

Frequently Asked Questions

After We Receive Your Application

We will process the application and add the annual registration fee to your account.
You will then receive an invoice at your email address, you can make the payment via:
- Visit www.cob.org/arpay and, enter your customer number from the invoice. Follow the prompts to make a payment by credit card.
- Submit a check to the Finance Department (210 Lottie Street – Bellingham, WA 98225).
After the fee is paid, the registration will be reviewed and validated by a program specialist.
After that, a certificate of registration will be sent to the primary contact for the property. A copy of this certificate must be posted in each rental unit in a visible location, or the property will be violation of the program.
- You can find alternatives to posting the Certificate of Registration in each unit here.
The property will also be added to the database of registered properties that is available to the public.

Verifying that Your Rental is Registered

The City maintains a list of registered properties that gets updated periodically. If you are unsure if the property you are searching for has been registered, please reach out to us at rentals@cob.org with the full address so that we can look it up and confirm the status for you.

Please note the Bellingham Municipal Code does allow for some exemptions from the program, and if applicable, that may be why the subject property is not listed.

Pre-Rental Safety Inspections

Before you can begin renting your property, the unit must be inspected by a safety inspector.

If ownership of a rental changes, please use the EZ Application to register the property so a new license number can be issued to the new owner.

Rental and Safety Program FAQs

Find answers to the questions we receive most often about the program.

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.

Change of Ownership?