Tacoma City Council reviews rental housing and landlord fairness code updates

The Tacoma Community Vitality and Safety Committee meeting on June 12, 2025, spotlighted significant updates to the city's rental housing regulations, emphasizing the newly implemented Landlord Fairness Code Initiative (LFCI) and its implications for both tenants and landlords.

Council Chair Rumba opened the session by stressing the importance of understanding the interplay between the rental housing code and the LFCI, which aims to enhance tenant protections. "This overview is an important step to building our foundational knowledge of how the different regulations work together," Rumba stated, highlighting the committee's commitment to thoughtful legislative changes.

Chiquetta Elder, the city's landlord-tenant coordinator, provided a detailed briefing on the rental housing code, which standardized tenant screening criteria and established regulations on rental agreements, deposits, and late fees. The LFCI, effective since December 23, 2023, mandates that landlords adhere to specific tenant protections before raising rents or evicting tenants, prohibits excessive fees, and requires relocation assistance for tenants facing significant rent increases.

Elder also discussed recent state legislation, House Bill 1217, which restricts rent increases during the first year of tenancy and caps annual increases at 7% plus the consumer price index, with a maximum of 10%. This law, effective from May 7, 2025, requires landlords to navigate multiple codes, as they must comply with the most stringent regulations in Tacoma.

Looking ahead, the committee plans to continue gathering data on the impact of these codes through community feedback and surveys, with a report expected by October 25, 2025. Staff will also conduct training sessions to ensure compliance and understanding of the new regulations.

The meeting underscored Tacoma's proactive approach to balancing landlord responsibilities with tenant rights, aiming to foster a fair and equitable rental market in the city.