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Olympia council adopts tenant‑screening ordinance aimed at widening application access

Olympia City Council · January 6, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The council adopted an ordinance amending Olympia Municipal Code 5.82 to limit certain tenant screening practices, including alternatives to requiring Social Security numbers and a rent‑to‑income standard; the measure passed 5–2 after extended debate.

The Olympia City Council voted Tuesday to adopt an ordinance amending Olympia Municipal Code 5.82, a change the city says is intended to reduce barriers in tenant application processes.

Council members debated two central elements cited in the packet: limiting the ability of landlords to require Social Security numbers as a condition of applying, and establishing guidance around a rent‑to‑income formula (discussed in the hearing as a 2.5‑times the rent standard). Council member Barron opposed the ordinance, arguing it…

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