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The new rules are designed to make the true cost of renting a home more transparent upfront and restrict certain fees that landlords can charge.

Beginning July 1, 2027, Seattle landlords will face new requirements around:

• Rental fee disclosures
• Pet-related charges
• Payment processing fees
• Optional resident services
• Variable monthly fees
• Rental advertising and listings
• Recordkeeping and compliance

This doesn’t mean every fee beyond rent is prohibited. Certain fees will still be allowed, but the rules around what can be charged and how it must be disclosed are becoming much stricter.

Washington’s ADU rules changed fast in 2025 and 2026. Here’s what Seattle and Eastside owners consistently get wrong, and how to rent an ADU legally.

Your new construction property is exempt from Washington’s rent cap, for now.

Here is what the exemption actually covers, what it does not, when the clock runs out, and the mistakes exempt-property landlords are making right now.