Council adopts stronger rental registration ordinance; ordinance requires landlord license before evictions and establishes relocation assistance

The Bremerton City Council on April 2, 2025, unanimously passed Ordinance 5510, amending Bremerton Municipal Code chapter 5.06 to strengthen the city’s rental property registration program and add relocation-assistance provisions for tenants forced to vacate unsafe units.

The ordinance requires landlords to hold a city landlord license before initiating actions to recover possession of a rental housing unit. Director of Community Development Andrea Spencer told the council, "If you don't have a license, you can't evict your tenant." City Attorney Kylie Fennell explained the city aligned its language with state law: "The code says to recover possession of a rental housing unit," reflecting the statutory process under the landlord-tenant act.

Council members framed the change as an enforcement and tenant-protection measure. Councilmember Jennifer Chamberlain said she was "really excited" that the ordinance includes funds to help tenants when the city requires vacating unsafe units. Councilmember Dave Goodnow and others praised the outreach materials and the new online landlord lookup tool staff launched to help residents check whether a property is registered.

Why it matters: the ordinance authorizes relocation assistance when the city issues a notice to vacate for unsafe conditions. Under the ordinance the landlord must pay the tenant the greater of $2,000 plus deposit and prepaid rent, or three times monthly rent, within seven days of the vacate notice unless the landlord proves an exemption. Fennell said landlords may submit proof of statutory exemptions (natural disaster, third-party illegal conduct that caused the unsafe condition, or acquisition by eminent domain). If a landlord fails to pay, the city may advance the payment from its abatement fund and then pursue reimbursement from the landlord; unpaid balances after 60 days accrue a $50 per day penalty and 12% interest (the statute's maximum legal rate).

Administration staff said there are no new fees or inspections in the ordinance; the city retained the $75 landlord license fee and self-certification process but added enforcement tools and a funding mechanism for relocation assistance. The ordinance also keeps an online landlord license lookup so tenants and others can verify registration status.

Council discussion focused on aligning the ordinance with the Revised Code of Washington and on whether to include the RCW language verbatim in city code or reference it. Fennell said the ordinance can reference RCW 59.18.060 "as currently enacted and hereafter amended" and that staff will correct any clerical or numbering errors if needed before the ordinance goes into effect.

The council also reviewed outreach and planned post-adoption materials, including infographics and handouts to explain eligibility and the process for tenants and landlords. Staff said the relocation funds are already available in the abatement fund and no additional budget amendment is required for the initial implementation.

Votes at a glance: President Fred Junger moved the ordinance; Councilmember Dave Goodnow seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous: Councilmembers Coughlin, Radlowski, Goodnow, Mokler, Chamberlain, Frey and President Junger voted yes. The ordinance was adopted and will take effect according to the timetable in the municipal code.