Burien Ordinance 789 (extending and modifying Ordinances 773 and 783) prohibits eviction of residential tenants for non-payment of rent or late fees until October 31, 2022, (the end of the state of emergency).

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Burien Ordinance 773 provides that any notice to pay or vacate based on non-payment of rent that came due prior to October 31, 2022, must include the following language in bold, underlined, 12 point font: “You may not be evicted for rent that became due during the Governor’s State of Emergency if your lease lapsed or expired, or the rent was unpaid because of a substantial reduction in household income or a substantial increase in expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This does not relieve you of the obligation to pay back rent in the future.”

The ordinance permanently prohibits

• Eviction for non-payment of rent that came due between February 29, 2020, and September 30, 2021, if the rent "was unpaid because of a substantial reduction in household income or a substantial increase in expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic" and 

• Enforcing the end date of a lease that expired between February 29, 2020, and September 30, 2021, if "the tenant has experienced a substantial reduction in household income or a substantial increase in expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic."

Kenmore Ordinance 21-0525 (extended by Ordinance 21-0536) requires housing providers to take additional steps before taking action against residential tenants based on non-payment of rent that came due between February 29, 2020, and October 31, 2022 (the end of the state of emergency):

• Any notice to pay rent or vacate must include the following language in bold, underlined, 12 point font: “You may not be evicted for rent that became due during the public health emergency if the rent was unpaid because of a substantial reduction in household income or a substantial increase in expenses related to the Coronavirus pandemic. This does not relieve you of the obligation to pay back rent in the future.”

• Prior to taking any collection activity, housing providers must make a good faith efforts to obtain rental assistance through any available resources, including the Landlord Mitigation Fund under RCW 43.31.605, the Limited Landlord Relief Program operated by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the King County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program, or any other resources provided by federal, state, or local government, OR identify why the housing provider is not eligible for each program.

• Any notice to pay rent or vacate must include a certification of what rental assistance programs to which the housing provider applied in a form prepared by the city.

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The ordinance permanently prohibits eviction for non-payment of rent that came due between February 29, 2020, and the end of the public health emergency, if the rent "was unpaid because of a substantial reduction in household income or substantial increase in expenses resulting from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."

King County Ordinance 2020-0191 requires housing providers to take additional steps before taking action against residential tenants based on non-payment of rent that came due between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021. The majority of the requirements are also included in state law (or state law provides greater protections). In addition to those provisions:

• A housing provider may not issue a no-cause notice of termination of tenancy or refuse to renew a tenancy without cause while a tenant is following a reasonable repayment plan for debt incurred between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021.

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The Ordinance also restricts the following actions regarding small commercial tenants based on rent that came due between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021:

• Terminating a tenant for non-payment of rent until after providing the tenant with "a repayment plan that was reasonable based on the individual financial, health and other circumstances of the tenant" if the non-payment was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and

• Charging late fees if the non-payment was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kirkland Ordinance O-4759 expired September 30, 2021. Any notice that includes rent which came due before that date must include the following statement  in bold, underlined, 12 point font: "You may not be evicted for rent that became due during the City of Kirkland's Proclamation of  Emergency if your rent was unpaid because of a substantial reduction in household income or a substantial increase in expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This does not relieve you of the obligation to pay back rent in the future. For more information for renters or landlords, call (425) 587-3326 or go to housinghelp@kirklandwa.gov.”

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The ordinance permanently prohibits eviction for non-payment of rent that came due between February 29, 2020, and September 30, 2021, if it was unpaid "because of a substantial reduction in household income or a substantial increase in expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes, but is not limited to, where, as a result of the pandemic, the tenant suffered a loss of employment or a reduction in hours, was unable to work because their children were out of school, was unable to work because they were sick with COVID-19 or caring for a household or family member who was sick with COVID-19, they were complying with a recommendation from a public health official or agency to self-quarantine, including to avoid the risk of medical complications to themselves or others, or they incurred substantial out of pocket medical expenses due to COVID-19."

The Kitsap County Superior Court local rule on the timing of pay or vacate and repayment plan notices has expired. Prior to its expiration, that rule required housing providers to serve the offer of a repayment plan required by RCW 59.18.630 at least 14 days before serving the Eviction Resolution Program (ERP) notice and the 14 day notice to pay rent or vacate. In general, Kitsap County housing providers may serve both notices simultaneously provided the tenant's options on receipt of these notices is clear and unambiguous.

The Seattle eviction moratorium was terminated on February 28, 2022. The general state of emergency was terminated effective October 31, 2022. The various housing restrictions have distinct end dates based on which event was used to trigger their expiration.

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The following actions regarding residential tenants are prohibited related to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Late fees are prohibited until October 31, 2023 (one year after the civil emergency ends);

• Tenants may not be evicted for rent that fell due between March 3, 2020, and October 31, 2022, (the civil emergency) if they certify that they suffered financial hardship that prevented them from paying rent during the state of emergency and can prove that hardship if challenged in court by the housing provider;

• Any notice which may lead to eviction must include the following statement: "RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL: CITY LAW PROVIDES RENTERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY THE RIGHT TO FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN AN EVICTION LAWSUIT. If you need help understanding this notice or information about your renter rights, call the Renting in Seattle Helpline at (206) 684-5700 or visit the web site at www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle." The first sentence must be in BOLD ALL CAPS and the full disclosure must be in at least 12 point font.

• Any notice based on rent which came due between March 3, 2020, and April 30, 2023, must include the following statement: "City law requires a landlord to offer a reasonable schedule for repayment of unpaid rent that accrued between March 3, 2020, and six months following the termination of the civil emergency proclaimed by Mayor Durkan on March 3, 2020. If your landlord does not offer such a repayment plan or give you 14 days to accept a reasonable repayment plan before proceeding with an unlawful detainer action, you may raise this as a defense to eviction in court."

• Any notice based on rent which came due between March 3, 2020, and October 31, 2022, must include the following statement: "If you cannot pay rent due during the civil emergency proclaimed by Mayor Durkan on March 3, 2020, your inability to pay is a defense to eviction that you may raise in court."

• Notices should only include the statements that apply based on the rent included in the notice.

The following actions regarding small commercial businesses/non-profits were prohibited by Ordinances 126347 and 126066 from March 1, 2020, until October 31, 2022, (the end of the civil emergency):

• Rent increases for month-to-month tenants;

• Rent increases in renewal of term tenancies;

• Evict the tenant for non-payment of rent that came due during the civil emergency or within 6 months of its termination if the tenant follows a repayment schedule that does not require payment of more than 1/3 of one month's rent per month toward the arrearage or last longer than one year provided that the burden is on the tenant to propose a repayment schedule that meets these terms; and

• Charging any amount for the late payment or non-payment of rent that came due during the civil emergency or within 12  months of its termination.

The Snohomish County Superior Court local rule on the timing of pay or vacate and repayment plan notices has expired. Prior to its expiration, that rule required housing providers to serve the offer of a repayment plan required by RCW 59.18.630 at least 14 days before serving the Eviction Resolution Program (ERP) notice and the 14 day notice to pay rent or vacate. In general, Snohomish County housing providers may serve both notices simultaneously provided the tenant's options on receipt of these notices is clear and unambiguous.