Seattle has enacted an ordinance banning common rental “junk fees,” outlawing administrative service charges, pet rent and package fees and requiring landlords to provide clear, upfront pricing for tenants. The City Council approved the measure 8-0 in August 2026; it applies to rental agreements and renewals entered into after July 1, 2027. Landlords must disclose monthly rent, any discounts or concessions, which utilities tenants are responsible for and which are included, all mandatory and optional fees (including variable charges), and the total monthly cost. The law also specifies permissible fees and caps, expands investigative authority, and empowers the City Attorney to sue violating landlords and recover up to three times the amount of illegal fees.
The ordinance responds to widespread concern that advertised rents often omit mandatory charges, leaving renters to pay unexpected costs or forfeit application and move-in fees. Lawmakers cite a 32% real increase in average rents from 2012-2022 in Seattle as context for affordability aims. The action fits a broader national push for fee transparency: trade groups have tracked numerous fee-transparency bills, Washington, D.C.’s attorney general has sued a major operator for hidden charges, and the Federal Trade Commission is soliciting input on potential rules to align advertised rent with total tenant costs.
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