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Committee hears Office for Civil Rights plan to enforce ‘do‑not‑solicit’ homeowner-protection ordinance
Summary
The committee received a briefing from the Office for Civil Rights on a proposed do‑not‑solicit homeowner privacy ordinance that would create a city-maintained opt‑out list and new civil penalties. SOCR requested dedicated outreach and enforcement staff and targeted, multilingual outreach to enforce the law and protect communities vulnerable to predatory solicitations.
The committee heard Agenda Item 2, a briefing on 'homeowner privacy and protection' legislation that would create a city do‑not‑solicit list and civil penalties for unwanted or predatory real‑estate solicitations. Chair Dion Foster framed the item as a response to predatory tactics that sometimes target homeowners in neighborhoods of color.
Mike Chin, interim director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR), said the office supports the ordinance and emphasized that predatory solicitations can have a discriminatory impact in vulnerable communities. SOCR requested two additional positions — an outreach specialist and a senior investigator — to implement outreach, complaint intake and enforcement. "We believe that the do not solicit ordinance is important and investing in these resources for this legislation is essential," Chin said.
SOCR and council central staff described outreach and implementation plans that would include translated print materials, targeted postal mail in high‑impact ZIP codes, ethnic media buys, social media ads and partnerships with the Department of Neighborhoods and community liaisons. Staff said program startup would require modest one‑time funding for materials and technology and ongoing funds for the two requested FTEs.
The ordinance would include civil penalties (the briefing cited a starting penalty of $1,000 for a first violation and $2,000 for subsequent violations) and a private right of action. SOCR said proactive education and targeted outreach are critical because communities most harmed by predatory solicitations may be unaware of the protection and because prior civil-rights laws in Seattle have often been adopted without matching outreach budgets.
Council members asked detailed operational questions about enforcement, outreach timelines and budget uses; SOCR staff explained the planned phased hiring and said outreach would focus on languages and neighborhoods identified in stakeholder engagement. The committee set deadlines for amendment concepts and said it may proceed with introduction and a possible vote at a future meeting.
No vote occurred at this meeting; the item was an informational briefing and the committee adjourned at 4:06 p.m.
