Seattle Housing Committee Discusses Rental Junk Fee Ban and Homeowner Privacy on July 8, 2026
Seattle Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee Meeting – July 8, 2026
The Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee met on July 8, 2026, at 2:05 PM in Council Chamber, City Hall, to discuss two major legislative items: the Rental Fees Transparency and Fairness Ordinance (Inf 29201) and the Homeowner Privacy and Protection Ordinance (Inf 29162). The meeting included extensive public testimony, with 37 in-person and 7 remote speakers, followed by briefings and committee discussion. No votes were taken; both items are scheduled for potential action at the July 22 committee meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rental Fees Transparency and Fairness Legislation (Junk Fees): The overwhelming majority of speakers expressed strong support for the ordinance, urging the council to pass it without weakening amendments. Speakers included renters, tenant advocates, representatives from Queer Power Alliance, Washington Housing Alliance, Seattle Renters Commission, Transit Riders Union (TRU), SEIU 6, UFCW 3000, and other community organizations. They described personal experiences with hidden fees such as pet rent, valet trash fees, technology fees, utility billing fees (RUBS), and fees to pay rent. Many argued that junk fees exacerbate housing instability, force renters to choose between housing and other necessities, and disproportionately harm people of color, low-income households, and marginalized communities. Some speakers also called for additional measures like rent control and a ban on RUBS.<br><br>Opposition came from representatives of the housing industry: Jake Mason (Washington Multifamily Housing Association), Danielle Duval (Credo Washington State, formerly NAIOP), Kevin Schilling (Rental Housing Association of Washington), and developer Parker Nicholson. They argued that banning fees would not reduce costs but instead shift them into base rent, increase regulatory burdens, deter investment, and ultimately raise rents. They supported transparency but opposed fee bans and private right of action. Some also asked for a longer implementation timeline and more collaborative policymaking.
- Homeowner Privacy and Protection Legislation: Two speakers from Seattle King County Realtors (Taylor Shanahan and Randy Banneker) expressed support for the goal of stopping predatory homebuying and unwanted solicitations, but urged the council to refine the definition of “solicit” to avoid chilling legitimate communications from licensed real estate professionals. They recommended aligning the ordinance with last year’s predatory homebuying ordinance, targeting unlicensed wholesalers, and using the existing national Do Not Call registry. They also suggested a safe harbor provision for licensed brokers.
Discussion Items
- Rental Fees Transparency and Fairness Legislation (Inf 29201): The committee received a briefing from Kerem Levitas (Mayor’s Office), Maureen Roat (SDCI), Neale Mahoney (Professor of Economics, Stanford University), and Ariel Nelson (Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center). The presentation covered:<br> - Background: More than half of Seattle renters are cost-burdened; 58% pay fees beyond rent; fees can add 10–30% to monthly costs.<br> - Economic perspective: Professor Mahoney explained that mandatory fees should be bundled into rent for transparency, contingent fees should be disclosed and capped, and genuinely optional services must be truly optional. He argued that such regulation can lower total costs through increased competition.<br> - Policy design: The ordinance bans all fees unless specifically exempted. Exemptions include already-regulated fees (e.g., application fees, security deposits, utility surcharges), certain cost-recovery fees (e.g., key replacement, lockout, late fees), and genuinely optional services (e.g., high-end internet, pet grooming) provided they are disclosed and opt-in with cost limits. The bill retains the ability to charge pet damage deposits (up to 25% of rent) and recover documented tenant damages. Enforcement is through SDCI with a private right of action, and a new per-unit fee of $5.50–$7.00/year covers program costs. The effective date is July 2027 to allow for implementation and education.<br> - Committee discussion: Councilmember Eddie Lin asked about best practices from other jurisdictions (Bellingham, Olympia, Colorado, Connecticut, Montgomery County) and noted that Seattle’s approach is more comprehensive, especially regarding enforcement. Chair Dionne Foster clarified that pet security deposits remain permissible, and optional services like Wi-Fi can be charged at cost. She also confirmed that leases converting to month-to-month after the effective date would be subject to the new rules. No amendments were proposed at this meeting; amendment concepts are due July 15.
- Homeowner Privacy and Protection Legislation (Inf 29162): The committee received a briefing from Mike Chin (Interim Director, Office for Civil Rights) and Monica Beach (Interim Civil Rights Enforcement Director), along with Council Central Staff. The presentation focused on the enforcement and outreach approach:<br> - The ordinance would create a “Do Not Solicit” list maintained by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), with civil penalties of $1,000 for first violation and $2,000 for subsequent violations, plus a private right of action.<br> - OCR requested two new positions: an outreach specialist (2027) and a senior investigator (2028), plus $50,000 in programming dollars for targeted outreach, translation, media buys, and community engagement. The outreach would focus on impacted communities, especially homeowners in neighborhoods of color.<br> - Committee discussion: Chair Foster asked about how OCR would administer the program with the requested resources. Mike Chin emphasized the need for proactive education and enforcement, noting that OCR has been underfunded for seven new civil rights laws since 2019. He stressed that the outreach would be tailored to the most affected areas. Amendment concepts for this ordinance are due July 13.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken on either item. Both are scheduled for a briefing and possible vote at the next committee meeting on July 22, 2026.<br>- For the Rental Fees Ordinance (Inf 29201): Council offices must submit amendment concepts to central staff by July 15, 2026.<br>- For the Homeowner Privacy Ordinance (Inf 29162): Amendment concepts are due July 13, 2026.<br>- The committee will hold its next regular meeting on July 22, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, everyone. Um, the July 8th, 2026, meeting of the Housing Arts and Civil Rights Committee will come to order. It is 204 p.m. I'm Dion Foster, Chair of the Housing Arts and Civil Rights Committee. Will the clerk please call the roll? Council President Hollingsworth. Here. Vice Chair Lynn here. Chair Foster. Here. Chair, there are three members present. Okay, please note that Councilmember Zuarez and Councilmember Rink have been excused. If there is no objection, the agenda will be adopted. Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted. We will now open the hybrid public comment period. Public comments to relate to items on today's agenda or within the purview of this committee. Clerk, how many speakers are signed up today? Currently we have 37 in-person speakers signed up, and there are seven remote speakers. Okay, great. Each speaker will have one minute. We will start with the in-person speakers first. Clerk, can you please read the public comment instructions? Public comment period is up to 60 minutes. Speakers will be called in the order in which they are registered. We will begin with in-person speakers and then move to remote speakers. Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left. Speakers' mics will be muted if they do not end their comments within the allotted time to allow us to call in the next speaker. The public comment period is now open. We will begin with the first speaker on the list. Okay, fantastic. And I will read the first two speakers. Um, and so we have a couple of different mics that folks can come up to. So just ask when I call your name, you can kind of cue up. So our first speaker is Super Liv Morgan, and then our second speaker is Taylor Far. Oh, Taylor Fervey. Yeah, any mic is fine. Good afternoon. My name is Super Lib Morgan. I am a tenant renter in Seattle Housing Authority. Uh, Seattle Housing Authority is starting to institute a 250 dollar fee for every false fire alarm on every single SHA tenant. When I heard this, I was beyond boiling. This is not right. This is not fair to have tenants. Even SHA is getting into the game of the junk fees. Ban junk fees. Thank you. Thank you. Um, our next speaker is Taylor, and following Taylor, we're going to have Skylar Parenthow and Michelle Thomas. Hello, my name is Taylor Farley. I'm with Queer Power Alliance.
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