Local Tacoma landlord-tenant law requires:
- All move-in costs (including any pre-paid rent) cannot exceed one month's rent. A pet deposit cannot exceed 25% of the first month's rent.
- Landlords must provide the City's landlord-tenant law summary to all existing tenants, and to all applicants to whom the landlord offers a lease.
- When serving predicate eviction notices or rent increases, such as a notice to pay rent or vacate, landlords must also provide the appropriate Resource Summary for that type of notice drafted by the City.
- Tacoma residential landlords must give at least 180 days' notice to increase the rent. These notices must be served in the same strict legal manner as predicate eviction notices, must be served in the correct time frame, and must be on the form required by state law.
- Late fees are capped at 1.5% of the monthly rent.
- There is a school-year eviction ban for tenants with school-age children or who work in a school or in childcare.
- There is a cold-weather eviction ban from November 15 to March 15.
- Tenants may sue landlords for violations. Landlords may be liable for a minimum of $500 or up to five times the monthly rent per violation, plus attorney fees.
- Residential landlords must have a business license before serving a rent increase or a notice that terminates the tenancy.
Tacoma landlords must comply with local law in addition to state law requirements.
Rent increases
Tacoma residential landlords must give at least 180 days' notice to increase rent.
Landlords must use the rent increase form required by state law, but are also required to serve a resources document with the rent increase notice. See the City of Tacoma Landlord Resources page (last accessed 11/29/25). All rent increase notices must be served in the same strict legal manner as predicate notices (notice to pay rent or vacate, notice to comply or vacate, etc.).
The tenant may request relocation assistance if the increase is 5% or more. The relocation assistance equals 2 months' rent for rent increases of 5%; 2.5 months' rent for rent increases of 7.5%; or, 3 months' rent for rent increases of 10% or more. The landlord must pay the relocation assistance within 30 days. There are exceptions for properties with four or fewer units on the same site, tenants who have occupied the rental for less than six months, and landlords temporarily renting out their residences due to military service.
Cold-weather and School Year Eviction Bans
Tacoma's school-year eviction ban applies if the eviction "would require the tenant to vacate” during the school year. The school year eviction ban covers a household with a minor child or K-12 student, or an educator. Both "school" and "educator" are broadly defined.
Tacoma residential tenants may not be evicted between November 15 and March 15.
There are exceptions to the school-year and cold-weather eviction bans, including the owner's intent to occupy as a primary residence; the landlord sharing the same dwelling with the tenant; and nuisance-type situations.
There are many other provisions and nuances under Tacoma landlord-tenant law.
Contact a landlord-tenant attorney if unsure.
