The King County Health, Housing and Human Services Committee on Sept. 11 recommended that the full council consider an ordinance that would ban algorithmic rent fixing in unincorporated King County. The committee approved an amendment clarifying permitted uses and voted 3–1 to forward the ordinance as amended.

The ordinance would add a new chapter to King County Code Title 12 making it unlawful for two or more landlords to “enter into an agreement, verbal, written or inferred from conduct, to establish rental prices,” to contract with a service provider that offers coordinating services, or for a service provider to deliver coordinating services to two or more landlords. The draft would also create a private right of action with statutory damages up to $7,500 per violation and require an executive study on enforcement options and outreach by July 15, 2026.

Supporters said the measure targets corporate platforms that aggregate competitively sensitive landlord data and return price recommendations that can function as a coordination hub. Angelo Pizzuto of Local Progress told the committee the ordinance targets “the sharing of competitively sensitive data among competing landlords” and coordination that results in anti‑competitive pricing. Lee Heffner of the American Economic Liberties Project told members that algorithmic coordination “constitutes the hub of a price‑fixing conspiracy” and that local laws can make enforcement more effective where federal antitrust litigation is difficult.

Public commenters, including renters and tenant advocates, urged passage. Rachel Snell, who identified herself as a resident, said she supported the ordinance because “algorithmic price fixing would enable this issue to increase.” Community organizer Jose Ortezar and advocates from the Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness and B‑Seattle described the measure as a tool to protect renters while broader supply and structural reforms continue.

Committee staff told members the proposed ordinance largely mirrors Seattle’s ordinance and cross‑references definitions in the Washington Residential Landlord‑Tenant Act. Staff noted three important details: an explicit definition of “coordinating services,” an exemption clarifying that publishing rental estimates based solely on publicly available information is not prohibited, and a 10‑day noticing requirement before the measure can be set for full council consideration. Staff also said the executive’s required study must evaluate enforcement options, estimated costs, potential county agencies to field complaints, and outreach strategies.

The committee adopted Amendment No. 1 to clarify that routine market research, aggregated reports that do not recommend future rent amounts, appraisals, and project financing work would not violate the ordinance. That amendment also moved the executive study deadline from March 31 to July 15, 2026. After debate the committee voted to recommend the ordinance to full council as amended, with Councilmember Dunne voting no and three members voting aye. The item was scheduled for the Sept. 23 council agenda for further action.

What’s next: The ordinance will appear on the King County Council agenda on Sept. 23. The executive is required to prepare the enforcement study described in the ordinance if the council adopts the new chapter.