Fair Housing: Washington

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Washington Protected Classes

(Revised Code of The State of Washington § 49.60.222; §59.18.255)

  • Race
  • Color
  • National Origin
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial Status
  • Disability
  • Marital Status
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Creed
  • Citizenship/Immigration Status
  • Military/ Honorably Discharged Veteran Status
  • Use of a Service Animal
  • Source of Income1

1Source of Income includes benefits or subsidy programs including housing assistance, public assistance, emergency rental assistance, veterans’ benefits, social security, supplemental security income or other retirement programs, and other programs administered by any federal, state, local, or nonprofit entity. "Source of income" does not include income derived in an illegal manner.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Kitsap County Code § 2.80.020)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Bainbridge Island Protected Classes

(Bainbridge Island Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Silverdale Protected Classes

Silverdale is a census-designated place within Kitsap County

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Kittitas County Fair Housing Resolution #2017-155)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Ellensburg Protected Classes

(Ellensburg Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Clark County Municipal Code §§ 2.35.010 et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Camas Protected Classes

(Camas Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Vancouver Protected Classes

(Vancouver Municipal Code §§ 8.44.010, et seq.; §§ 8.45.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(King County Code §§ 12.20.030 – 12.20.060)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Alternative Source of Income2
  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Participation in Section 8 Program3

Bellevue Protected Classes

(Bellevue Municipal Code §§ 9.20.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Section 8 Status

Bothell Protected Classes

(Bothell Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

City of Seattle Protected Classes

(City of Seattle Municipal Code §§ 14.08.020; 14.08.040; 14.09.025 and 26)​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Criminal History/Arrest or Conviction Record
  • Political Ideology
  • Preferred Employer4
  • Prior Eviction due to COVID-19

Federal Way Protected Classes

(Federal Way Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Issaquah Protected Classes

(Issaquah Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Kenmore Protected Classes

(Kenmore Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Kent Protected Classes

(Kent Municipal Code §§ 10.01.01 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Section 8 Status

Kirkland Protected Classes

(Kirkland Municipal Code § 7.74.010)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Section 8 Status

Lakewood Protected Classes

(Lakewood Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Mercer Island Protected Classes

(Mercer Island Fair Housing GOAL 3.20)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Redmond Protected Classes

(Redmond Municipal Code § 6.38.020)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Renton Protected Classes

(Renton Municipal Code §§ 6-32-1 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Source of Income5

Shoreline Protected Classes

(Shoreline Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Snoqualmie Protected Classes

(Snoqualmie Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Tukwila Protected Classes

(Tukwila Municipal Code § 8.47.010)

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Source of Income6

University Place Protected Classes

(University Place Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Woodinville Protected Classes

(Woodinville Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

2Alternative Source of Income in Kings county means lawful, verifiable income derived from sources other than wages, salaries, or other compensation for employment.  It includes but is not limited to moneys derived from Social Security benefits, other retirement programs, supplemental security income, unemployment benefits, child support, the state Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Assistance Program, state Refugee Cash Assistance and any other federal, state, local government, private or nonprofit-administered cash benefit program.

3Defined in 12.20.020(K) as participating in a federal, state or local government program in which a tenant's rent is paid partially by the government, through a direct contract between the government program and the owner or lessor of the real property, and partially by the tenant" in Ordinance 19026 without displaying the changes as required in K.C.C. 1.24.075.

4Any policy or practice in which a person provides different terms and conditions, including but not limited to discounts or waiver of fees or deposits, in connection with renting, leasing, or subleasing real property to a prospective occupant because the prospective occupant is employed by a specific employer.

5Source of Income in Renton includes benefits or subsidy programs including housing assistance, public assistance, emergency rental assistance, veterans benefits, social security, supplemental security income or other retirement programs, and other programs administered by any federal, state, local, or nonprofit entity. “Source of income” does not include income derived in an illegal manner.

6Source of Income in Tukwila includes legally derived income from social security; supplemental security income; other retirement programs; or any federal, state, local, or nonprofit administered benefit or subsidy programs, including housing assistance, public assistance and general assistance programs.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Pierce County Code § 8.68.040)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Arbitrary Status7
  • Ancestry7
  • Ethnicity7

Auburn Protected Classes

(Auburn Municipal Code § 5.22.55)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Source of Income8

Tacoma Protected Classes

(Tacoma Municipal Code Title 1 §§ 1.29.100)​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Gender Identity

Dupont Protected Classes

(Dupont Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Edgewood Protected Classes

(Edgewood Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Puyallup Protected Classes

(Puyallup Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

7Class listed in local fair housing source, but not codified.

8Source of income in Auburn includes income derived from social security, supplemental security income, other retirement programs, and any federal, state, and local subsidy programs, including housing assistance, public assistance, and general assistance programs.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Snohomish County Code § 2.460.130)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity

Edmonds Protected Classes

(Edmonds Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Everett Protected Classes

(Everett Municipal Code §§ 9.22.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry

Lake Stevens Protected Classes

(Lake Stevens Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Lynnwood Protected Classes

(Lynnwood Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Mukilteo Protected Classes

(Mukilteo Municipal Code)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age9
  • Ancestry9

9These classes are protected per a local fair housing source but are not codified in local law.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Spokane County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

Cheney Protected Classes

(Cheney Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes.

City of Spokane Protected Classes

(City of Spokane Municipal Code § 18.01.030[D] and § 18.03.010)​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Source of Income6
  • Age
  • Victim of Domestic Violence
  • Refugee Status

Liberty Lake Protected Classes

(Liberty Lake Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Spokane Valley Protected Classes

(Spokane Valley Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

6Income in Spokane means lawful, verifiable income derived from all sources, including without limitation wages, salaries or other compensation for employment; Social Security benefits; supplemental security income; unemployment benefits; retirement programs; child support; payments from the Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Assistance Program; Refugee Cash Assistance; any federal, state, local government, private, or nonprofit-administered benefit program, including without limitation payments from any housing choice or other subsidy program as defined in this chapter; financial aid for college students; and per capita payments or distributions received from a federally-recognized tribe. Housing choice or other subsidy program or alternative source of income in Spokane means, without limitation: (i) any short or long term federal, state or local government, private nonprofit, or other assistance program in which a tenant's rent is paid either partially by the program (through a direct arrangement between the program and the owner or lessor of the real property), and partially by the tenant or completely by the program; or (ii) HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) funds, and short-term rental assistance provided by Rapid Rehousing subsidies.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Thurston County Code §§ 10.10.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age

Lacey Protected Classes

(Lacey Municipal Code §§ 9.48.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry

Olympia Protected Classes

(Olympia Municipal Code §§ 5.80.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Gender
  • Section 8 Status

Tumwater Protected Classes

(Tumwater Municipal Code § 5.70.040)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Section 8 Status
  • Source of Income10

10Source of Income in Tumwater includes benefits or subsidy programs including housing assistance, public assistance, emergency rental assistance, veterans benefits, social security, supplemental security income or other retirement programs, and other programs administered by any federal, state, local, or nonprofit entity. “Source of income” does not include income derived in an illegal manner.