Why Cities and Towns Should Consider Developing Rental Housing Registries

Cities and towns in Washington State face challenges in ensuring safety and code regulation in rental housing. Rental registries can simplify these processes.

Rental registries allow municipalities to formally register rental properties and, in many cases, require inspections for safety and habitability standards. Sometimes, landlords also have to obtain business licenses to offer rental properties to tenants. Some registries also track rents over time.

By maintaining these records, cities and towns can regularly assess their housing stock, which helps preserve the safety and comfort of local communities, as well as aiding in planning and resource allocation, according to the Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHAWA).

This blog will discuss the benefits of rental registries as well as highlighting key features of programs across the state.

What Is a Rental Registry?

A rental registry is a system where municipalities register rental properties and often require inspections to confirm compliance with safety and habitability standards. According to the RHAWA, registries help municipalities:

• Maintain accurate records
• Monitor compliance
• Plan resources efficiently

Washington State law permits municipalities to require registration of rental properties and enforce inspection frequency (RCW 59.18.125). A number of cities and towns of all sizes and in all regions have implemented registries. These programs allow municipalities to proactively monitor rental properties, identify potential violations, and act before housing conditions deteriorate.

Produced by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the 2024 Washington State Rental Registry Report (Rental Registry Study) looked at 17 city-run rental registries in Washington, which covered about 40% of rental units in the state. The study found that local registries vary widely in design, but mostly focus on safety and code enforcement, though some also include rent tracking. Most collect only basic information like address, number of units, and property owner.

The study was created for the legislature to decide if it was feasible to build a statewide system to collect detailed information on rental housing. Currently, there are no plans for a statewide system.

Examples of Rental Registries and Their Goals

Some programs focus on getting landlords to register their units (in order to monitor the inventory across the jurisdiction) while others include goals related to unit inspections or safety concerns. Below is a sampling of programs.

• Aberdeen Residential Rental Licensing and Inspection (Aberdeen Municipal Code Ch. 15.10) – Landlord must register in order to rent properties. Requires annual licensing and inspections for all residential rental units; the city can then monitor property conditions over time and respond to violations.
• Bellingham Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program – Requires all rental units to be registered; this provides the city with a complete inventory of rental properties, including number of units, dwelling type, and ownership information.
• Burien Rental Housing Inspection Program – Landlords must hire certified inspectors, and the city reviews reports to maintain records of code compliance; this reduces administrative burden while maintaining oversight. The rental housing policy is outlined in Burien Municipal Code Ch. 5.63 and the inspection program is outlined at Burien Municipal Code Ch. 5.62
• Spokane Long-Term Rentals Registry (incorporated into Spokane Municipal Code Sec. 10.57.020) – Registration is mandatory, and unregistered units cannot raise rents or evict tenants (see Ord. No. C-36330, enacted in 2024); enables targeted inspections and policy planning.
• Tacoma Rental Housing Code (Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 1.95) – Requires landlords obtain a business license for each rental property; the city code mandates that landlords meet health and safety standards and prohibits rent increases or evictions without proper compliance.
• Tukwila Rental Housing Licensing and Inspections (Tukwila Municipal Code Ch. 5.06) – Requires landlords to register units and submit them for inspection.

Enforcement of Rental Registries

The Rental Registry Study found that enforcement was important to the success of these registries. According to the study, Seattle and Minneapolis had rental housing compliance rates near 90%.

Enforcement alternatives among Washington cities and towns include some or all of the following:

• Requiring business licenses: In some cities, landlords must register their properties to maintain valid business licenses for all of their properties. Noncompliance can result in landlords being unable to rent out their units.
• Leveraging penalties and fines: Penalties may include daily fines for unregistered properties or for failure to meet housing standards.
• Developing inspection requirements: Several Washington cities tie rental registration to property inspections. Noncompliant landlords face fines or even legal action.
• Integrating public reporting mandates: Some cities make rental data publicly accessible to boost landlord compliance. This serves as an informal enforcement mechanism, as landlords might not want to risk negative publicity or public scrutiny.
• Creating a formal notice and appeals process: Some registries include an appeals process, where landlords can challenge fines or penalties. This ensures that landlords are given a fair opportunity to address noncompliance before penalties are fully enforced.

How Rental Registries Can Benefit Local Governments

Rental registries offer multiple operational and policy benefits for municipalities:

• Accurate inventory: Offers a comprehensive overview of available rental units, supporting planning and enforcement strategies (Rental Registry Study).
• Safety verification: Regular inspections confirm that units continue to meet health and safety codes (RCW 59.18.125).
• Landlord accountability: Requiring unit registration ensures landlords are known to the city/town and subject to oversight (RHAWA).

Implementing a rental registry allows municipalities to systematically manage their rental housing stock. In turn, these tools help cities and towns ensure safe, well-maintained housing for community members while gaining better oversight of the local rental market.