Seattle City Council Votes to Ban ‘Junk Fees’ for Renters

City nixes rental junk fees

The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed new legislation that will eliminate rental “junk” fees.

Seattle City Council bans ‘junk’ rental fees

The Seattle City Council voted to ban most types of rental fees this week — a move welcomed by tenants' advocates, who argue that tacked-on charges make housing more expensive and obscure its true costs to renters. The bill requires landlords to disclose all mandatory and optional fees upfront in home listings or ads. The ordinance will take effect July 1, 2027. It allows but limits the ...

Seattle City Council Bans Rental Junk Fees, Funds Assistance for LGBTQ People

At yet another long meeting Tuesday, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted to ban landlords from charging “junk” fees, a highly anticipated reform championed by tenant advocates. The council also approved a mid-year budget revision which added funds for various city priorities, including universal school meals, services for LGBTQ people, and gun violence prevention. The junk fees vote was a major win for Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, who had …

Seattle bans rental ‘junk fees’

The new transparency ordinance, effective July 2027, eliminates administrative service charges, pet rent and package fees and requires upfront pricing for tenants.

Woof! Seattle passes restrictions on landlord ‘junk fees’ including a ban on dog rent

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to pass legislation banning rental “junk fees,” delivering a major victory for Mayor Katie Wilson’s housing affordability agenda. Shepherded through council by Housing Committee Chair Dionne Foster, the ordinance targets hidden and add-on charges that artificially inflate housing costs. Effective July 1, 2027, landlords in Seattle will no longer be allowed to charge recurring pet rent, packag…

Seattle City Council votes to ban ‘junk fees’ for renters

The Seattle City Council has voted to ban some specific mandatory fees for renters on new leases, commonly referred to as “junk fees.”