Washington State – Rent Control (May 2025)

On May 7, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1217 into law, enacting statewide rent control measures aimed at stabilizing housing costs for renters across the state. This legislation positions Washington as the third U.S. state, following Oregon and California, to implement such comprehensive rent regulations .Axios+11AP News+11Stoel Rives LLP+11CoStar+1Axios+1

Key Provisions of House Bill 1217

• Rent Increase Cap: The law limits annual rent increases for existing tenants to the lesser of 7% plus the annual inflation rate or 10%. For residents of manufactured and mobile homes, the cap is set at 5% annually .AP News+7CoStar+7Governor Bob Ferguson+7Washington State Legislature+4Axios+4National Apartment Association+4
• Effective Date and Duration: The legislation took effect immediately upon signing and is set to remain in place for 15 years. However, the 5% cap for manufactured homes is permanent .AP News
• Exemptions: Newly constructed buildings are exempt from the rent cap for 12 years. Additionally, public housing authorities, low-income developments, and owner-occupied duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are not subject to these limits .Spokesman-Review+1Axios+1
• Notice Requirements: Landlords are now required to provide tenants with a minimum of 90 days’ written notice before implementing any rent increase, an extension from the previous 60-day requirement .
• Enforcement Mechanisms: If a landlord imposes a rent increase exceeding the allowed cap without a valid exemption, tenants have the right to terminate their lease with 20 days’ notice. Furthermore, both tenants and the state attorney general can initiate legal action, with potential penalties of up to $7,500 per violation .

Legislative Journey and Reactions

The path to enacting HB 1217 was marked by significant debate and amendments. Initially, the Senate proposed increasing the rent cap to 10% plus inflation and exempting single-family homes. These amendments were later removed in a conference committee, restoring the original provisions before final passage .https://www.kptv.com+11Lewis Brisbois+11AP News+11Governor Bob Ferguson+4AP News+4Axios+4

Supporters, including bill sponsor Sen. Emily Alvarado, emphasized the need for “common-sense guardrails” to protect renters from excessive rent hikes, especially amid rising housing costs and economic uncertainty .The Columbian+1AP News+1

Opponents, such as the Rental Housing Association of Washington, argued that the legislation could discourage new housing development and exacerbate the existing housing shortage. They also expressed concerns about the immediate implementation of the law without prior calculation of the allowable rent increase based on inflation .Axios+1Axios+1

Broader Housing Initiatives

HB 1217 is part of a broader legislative effort by Governor Ferguson to address housing affordability and availability in Washington. Additional measures signed into law include incentives for affordable housing development, reforms to streamline housing construction, and provisions to facilitate the redevelopment of commercial properties into residential units .CoStar+2National Apartment Association+2Stoel Rives LLP+2

With these comprehensive reforms, Washington aims to provide greater stability for renters and address the state’s housing challenges through a combination of rent regulation and increased housing supply.