Rental licence requirements in Seattle, WA

Requirements taken from official city sources, quoted and dated.

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Who must register

All owners of rental housing in Seattle — from a single house to a multifamily building, with a number of exceptions. As of January 2019, short-term rentals in which the owner does not live must also register. Registration is required as soon as a tenant occupies the space; short-term rentals must register before the listing is posted. Exceptions (listed on a separate SDCI page, not verified word for word): commercial lodging, state-licensed facilities such as adult family homes, and housing owned by government agencies and housing authorities.

Fee

$126 per property (covering the first rental unit) plus $31.50 for each additional unit at the same property. Examples from the city site: a single-family home — $126, a two-unit property — $157.50, a ten-unit property — $409.50. The amounts include the RRIO fee and SDCI's 5% technology fee. The same amount covers 2 years of registration; renewal costs the same.

Renewal

The registration is valid for 2 years from the date of registration; it must be renewed by the expiration date shown on the certificate. The city sends a renewal notice roughly 60 days in advance by mail and email.

Inspection

Yes. A property is selected for inspection once during the first five years after registration, and there is a 10% chance of being selected again in the following five years. After the notice, at least 60 days are allowed to complete it. For multifamily properties the owner chooses whether to have all units inspected or a 20% sample. The inspector may be a city inspector or a qualified private inspector.

What tenants must receive

The RRIO registration certificate must be posted in a common area of the rental property or a copy given to each tenant. In addition, at registration the owner certifies that the property and its units meet the standards of the RRIO Checklist. Tenants must be given at least two days' notice of an inspection.

Penalty for operating unlicensed

Verbatim from the SDCI page: "Penalties are $150 per day for the first 10 days and $500 per day after that." A violation includes failing to file the registration on time, failing to complete the inspection on time, and renting housing that does not meet the minimum standards of the RRIO Checklist. In case of continued noncompliance, the matter is referred to the City Attorney's office for suit.

What the ordinance says

Quotes from the SDCI page, not from the text of the code (see notes): "Rental housing properties (with a few exceptions) must be registered with the RRIO program."; "Your RRIO registration is good for 2 years from the date you register your property." — Seattle Municipal Code, Chapter 22.214 — Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance

Source: https://www.seattle.gov/construction-and-inspections/codes/licensing-and-registration/rental-registration-and-inspection-ordinance/owners-and-managers · checked 2026-08-14