A growing list of Washington cities requires landlords to register or license rentals, and letting one lapse can cost far more than the fee. Here is what each program requires, when it renews, and where to do it, verified against each city's official pages.
Register every rental property under the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance (RRIO); periodic inspections.
Annual registration of residential rentals (currently free). Owner-occupied room rentals, short-term rentals, and licensed facilities are exempt.
The city brochure says January 31; the city web page says January 1. Confirm the current deadline with the city.
Annual rental business license for all residential rental owners, plus unit inspections before first occupancy and every 4 years.
Annual registration of long-term rentals ($35 per unit), a state business license with Olympia endorsement, and third-party inspections every 5 years.
The city page does not state one fixed annual due date; confirm your renewal date on your notice.
Annual registration of long-term rentals ($15 per unit per year plus the state business license).
Annual registration of residential rental units ($30 per unit per year; owner-occupied single-family exempt), starting January 1, 2026. Tenant-resource handouts required with new leases.
Register nearly all residential rentals; safety inspection before renting and periodically after. The certificate must be posted in each unit.
Cities add programs every year (Vancouver's started January 2026), and requirements above were verified on July 10, 2026. Always check your own city's website before relying on a third-party summary, including this one.
This is an informational tool, not legal advice, and we are not your lawyer. Double-check deadlines with a licensed Washington attorney before acting on them.
The paid calendar tracks your Seattle RRIO expiration alongside every notice deadline, with email reminders before each date. Support for more cities' registration renewals is on the way.
