SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL - Record No: CB 119606

• Record No: CB 119606
• Version: 2
• Council Bill No: CB 119606
• Type: Ordinance (Ord)
• Status: Passed
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: City Clerk
• On agenda: 9/30/2019
• Ordinance No: Ord 125950
• Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to rental properties; restricting a landlord's ability to limit the number of persons residing in a rental unit; prohibiting the use of conditions that are applied to persons residing in a rental unit who are not tenants; and amending Sections 7.24.020 and 7.24.030 of, and adding new Sections 7.24.031 and 7.24.032 to, the Seattle Municipal Code.
• Sponsors: Lisa Herbold
• Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Central Staff Memo (8/8/2019), 3. Central Staff Memo (9/5/2019), 4. Central Staff Memo (added 9/24/19), 5. Signed Ordinance 125950, 6. Affidavit of Publication

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/11/2019	2	City Clerk	attested by City Clerk
10/11/2019	2	Mayor	returned
10/11/2019	2	Mayor	returned unsigned
10/3/2019	2	City Clerk	submitted for Mayor's signature
9/30/2019	2	City Council	passed	Pass
9/24/2019	1	Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee	pass as amended	Pass
9/10/2019	1	Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee
8/13/2019	1	Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee	discussed
8/12/2019	1	City Council	referred
8/8/2019	1	Council President's Office	sent for review
8/6/2019	1	City Clerk	sent for review

CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to rental properties; restricting a landlord's ability to limit the number of persons residing in a rental unit; prohibiting the use of conditions that are applied to persons residing in a rental unit who are not tenants; and amending Sections 7.24.020 and 7.24.030 of, and adding new Sections 7.24.031 and 7.24.032 to, the Seattle Municipal Code.
body
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2019, Council adopted Resolution 31861, which outlined harms that evictions from housing have on tenants and marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 31861 prioritized exploration of solutions for seven problems identified in the Seattle Women's Commission and Housing Justice Project report "Losing Home: The Human Cost of Eviction in Seattle"; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 31861 identified one of the obstacles to remaining in housing is a tenant's need to live with a roommate to afford rent, but tenants are often restricted from doing so under their lease agreements, because of a landlord's discretion to reject a roommate, and due to additional fees and screening criteria for roommates; and
WHEREAS, the resolution also identified the problems faced by renters when a tenant on a lease or rental agreement dies and the remaining occupants do not have any right to remain in the rental unit; and
WHEREAS, these problems can contribute to financial instability that ultimately may lead to eviction; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 7.24.020 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 125901, is amended as follows:
7.24.020 Definitions
As used in this Chapter 7.24:
* * *
"Housing costs" means rent as defined by chapter 59.18 RCW.
"Immediate family" means spouses, domestic partners, former spouses, former domestic partners, adult persons related by marriage, siblings, persons 16 years of age or older who are presen...