Washington
Property Management Software for Washington Landlords
Washington’s new HB 1217 rent cap law (May 2025) limits increases to 7% + CPI statewide, but Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia layer additional rules on top. LeaseBase tracks compliance for your specific city.
Up to 3 units, no credit card. Growth from $79/mo.
Why Washington Landlords Need a System
Washington landlords are navigating one of the biggest regulatory shifts in state history. HB 1217, signed into law in May 2025, introduced statewide rent caps for the first time — limiting annual increases to 7% plus CPI (currently 9.683% for 2026). Landlords who were used to setting rents freely are now scrambling to understand the new limits, notice requirements, and exemptions before their next lease renewal.
But the statewide cap is just the floor. Seattle requires a staggering 180-day advance notice for any rent increase — the longest in the nation. Seattle’s Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance (EDRA) ordinance forces landlords to pay thousands of dollars in relocation costs when increases exceed 10%. Tacoma and Olympia have their own tiered notice systems that differ from both the state and Seattle. Miss a notice deadline or exceed your city’s threshold, and you could owe mandatory relocation payments you never budgeted for.
HB 1217 includes a 12-year new construction exemption, but tracking when that exemption expires requires knowing your certificate of occupancy date for each building. Just cause eviction now applies statewide, with 17 enumerated reasons — you cannot simply decline to renew a lease without qualifying grounds. LeaseBase tracks all of these overlapping rules for every property in your portfolio, calculates your maximum allowable increase by city, and alerts you to notice deadlines before they pass.
Washington Rent Cap Calculator
HB 1217 sets a statewide cap, but cities like Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia layer additional notice and relocation rules. Use our free calculator to find your actual maximum increase and required notice period.
City-Specific Rules
Washington’s statewide rent cap is just the starting point. These cities add their own notice periods, relocation assistance triggers, and seasonal restrictions that landlords must follow.
Seattle
- 180-day notice — longest in the U.S.
- EDRA relocation assistance required at 10%+ increases
- Winter eviction ban (Nov–Mar)
- Just cause eviction (18 reasons)
- First-in-time tenant selection
Tacoma
- 120–210 day tiered notices based on increase size
- EDRA relocation assistance at 5%+ increases
- Just cause eviction required
- Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance
- Notice of Rights required at lease signing
Olympia
- 120/180-day tiered notices by increase percentage
- Relocation assistance triggered at 7%+ increases
- Just cause eviction required
- Source of income discrimination prohibited
- State capital — often first to adopt new rules
Other Washington Cities
- 90-day notice (statewide minimum)
- HB 1217 cap applies (7% + CPI)
- Just cause eviction statewide
- No additional local relocation requirements
- 12-year new construction exemption
Washington Rent Cap — Key Facts
Washington Compliance Guides
HB 1217 is brand new, and most landlords don’t know what’s required yet. These guides break down every rule that affects your Washington rentals.
HB 1217 Complete Guide
Everything landlords need to know about Washington’s first statewide rent cap law.
Read the guide →Seattle 180-Day Notice Rule
How to comply with the longest rent increase notice period in the United States.
Understand the timeline →Seattle EDRA Relocation
When you owe relocation assistance, how much, and how to calculate the cost.
Know your obligations →WA Exemptions Guide
New construction, owner-occupied, nonprofit, and other properties exempt from rent caps.
Check your exemption →Tacoma vs Seattle vs Olympia
Side-by-side comparison of notice periods, relocation triggers, and eviction rules.
Compare the cities →WA 2026 Cap Calculation
How the 9.683% cap is calculated, which CPI index is used, and when it resets.
See the math →New to Washington’s rent cap?
LeaseBase tracks HB 1217 compliance automatically — including city-specific notice periods, relocation assistance triggers, and exemption expiration dates for every property in your portfolio.
Up to 3 units, no credit card. Growth from $79/mo.