CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to prohibiting algorithmic rent fixing; and adding a new Chapter 7.34 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, in recent years, software using competitive non-public information provided by landlords to suggest and set rent prices and other lease terms has proliferated in rental markets across the nation; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with several state attorneys general, filed a civil lawsuit against RealPage, Inc., alleging that RealPage contracts with competing landlords who provide nonpublic competitively sensitive information about rent and other lease terms, which help the software generate recommendations on rental pricing and other terms in violation of antitrust laws; and
WHEREAS, while Washington State was originally part of the multi-state lawsuit filed by DOJ, the Attorney General withdrew the claim and filed a suit in state court instead, alleging violations of the state's Consumer Protection Act; and
WHEREAS, other jurisdictions across the country, including San Francisco, Portland, Berkeley, San Diego, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Colorado, have considered, are considering, or have passed legislation to regulate coordination between landlords or the use of algorithmic software to set rent; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature considered regulating algorithmic rent fixing and noncompete agreements in Senate Bill 5469 in the 2025 legislative session; and
WHEREAS, this legislation is modeled on the legislation considered by the Washington State Legislature; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Chapter 7.34 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:
Chapter 7.34 ALGORITHMIC RENT FIXING
7.34.010 Findings
A. The prevalence of new software programs, often referred to as "algorithmic devices," has increased over the past several years.
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