HomeMy WebLinkAbout6786 ORDINANCE NO. 6786
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AUBURN, WASHINGTON, CREATING A NEW CHAPTER
5.23 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING A CITY OF AUBURN
RENTAL HOUSING POLICY
WHEREAS, earlier this year, the World Health Organization has announced novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) is officially a global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and
Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency because of
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Washington Governor also declared a State of Emergency due to
new cases of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the Mayor proclaimed a local emergency due to
growing public health impacts of COVID-19, which the Auburn City Council ratified by
Resolution No. 5504; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the COVID-19 challenges that can affect payment of
residential rent, it is appropriate to establish regulations supporting the issues of
increasing housing security and enforcement mechanisms as they relate to rental housing
within the City limits of Auburn; and
WHEREAS, it is the City's intent to continue its commitment to maintain vibrant
and diverse neighborhoods within Auburn, while balancing the needs of landlord and
tenants.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN as follows:
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 1 of 13
Section 1. New Chapter 5.23 to City Code. A new Chapter 5.23 of the Auburn
City Code is hereby created to read as follows:
Chapter 5.23
Rental Housing Policy
Sections:
5.23.010 Purpose and Intent.
5.23.020 Definitions.
5.23.030 Distribution of information required.
5.23.040 Deposit requirements, notice of rent increase requirements,
and installment payments permitted.
5.23.050 Notice requirement generally-reasonable accommodation
request.
5.23.060 Notice of proposed sale of low-income housing.
5.23.070 Just Cause Eviction
5.23.080 Compliance and enforcement.
5.23.010 Purpose and Intent.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations supporting the topic
of increasing housing security, and to establish standards and enforcement
mechanisms as they relate to rental housing within the City limits of Auburn. It is
the City's intent to continue its long-term commitment to maintain vibrant and
diverse neighborhoods within Auburn. The regulations contained in this chapter
balance the needs of the landlord, tenant, and the City while creating a partnership
to ensure safe, healthy, and thriving rental housing in Auburn. The City recognizes
that the renting of residential property is a commercial venture where owners and
landlords must evaluate risk, profit, and loss. Providing housing for Auburn
residents directly impacts quality of life at the most basic level, and therefore
requires regulations to ensure that it is equitably undertaken. This chapter strives
to ensure housing security for current and future residents, and addresses
potential retaliation against tenants who make complaints about housing
conditions.
5.23.020 Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the
definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:
A. "Assisted housing development" means a multifamily rental housing
development that both receives government assistance and is defined as federally
assisted housing in RCW 59.28.020, or that receives other federal, state, or local
government assistance and is subject to use restrictions.
B. "Days" means calendar days unless otherwise provided.
D. "Director" means the Director of the City of Auburn Department of
Community Development, or the Director's designee.
E. "Dwelling unit" means a structure or part of a structure used as a
home, residence, or sleeping place by one, two, or more persons maintaining a
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 2 of 13
common household, including, but not limited to, single-family residences and
multiplexes, apartment buildings, and mobile homes.
E. "Immediate family member" includes the spouse or domestic partner,
dependent children, and other dependent relatives.
F. "Landlord" means a landlord as defined in and within the scope of
RCW 59.18.030 and RCW 59.18.040 of the Residential Landlord Tenant Act of
1973 ("RLTA") in effect at the time the rental agreement is executed. As of the
effective day of this ordinance, the RLTA defines "landlord" as "the owner, lessor,
or sub-lessor of the dwelling unit or the property of which it is a part, and in addition
means any person designated as representative of the owner, lessor, or sub-lessor
including, but not limited to, an agent, a resident manager, or a designated property
manager."
G. "Non-refundable move-in fees "means non-refundable payment paid
by a tenant to a landlord to cover administrative, pet, or damage fees, or to pay for
cleaning of the dwelling unit upon termination of the tenancy, but does not include
payment of a holding fee authorized by RCW 59.18.253(2).
H. "Owner" means "Owner" means the owner of record as shown on
the last King County tax assessment roll or such owner's authorized agent.
1. "Rent" or "rental amount" means recurring and periodic charges
identified in the rental agreement for the use and occupancy of the premises, which
may include charges for utilities. These terms do not include nonrecurring charges
for costs incurred due to late payment, damages, deposits, legal costs, or other
fees, including attorneys' fees. PROVIDED, however, that if, at the
commencement of the tenancy, the landlord has provided an installment payment
plan for nonrefundable fees or deposits for the security of the tenant's obligations
and the tenant defaults in payment, the landlord may treat the default payment as
rent owing.
J. "Rental agreement" means all agreements which establish or modify
the terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or any other provisions concerning the
use and occupancy of a dwelling unit."
K. "Security deposit" means a refundable payment or deposit of money,
however designated, the primary function of which is to secure performance of a
rental agreement or any part of a rental agreement. "Security deposit" does not
include a fee.
L. "Substantial rehabilitation" means extensive structural repair or
extensive remodeling and requires a building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical
permit for the tenant's dwelling unit at issue. Any "substantial rehabilitation" as
provided herein requires displacement of a tenant.
M. "Tenant" means any person who is entitled to occupy a dwelling unit
primarily for living or dwelling purposes under a rental agreement.
5.23.030 Distribution of information required.
A. Distribution of resources by landlord.
1. At the time a prospective tenant applies to reside in a dwelling unit,
the landlord shall provide the prospective tenant with the landlord's written rental
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 3 of 13
criteria and, once created by the City, with a City of Auburn informational website
address designated by the City for the purpose of providing information about the
property and its landlord, which may include, but is not limited to, local code
enforcement information relating to properties within City limits, and a website
address for the Washington Secretary of State for the purpose of providing
information on how to register to vote or change their address, if the individual is
already registered to vote.
2. In the event a prospective tenant cannot reasonably access the
internet and at their request, a landlord shall provide the prospective tenant a paper
copy of the property and landlord information that can be found on the website
identified above.
B. Distribution of information packets by landlord.
1 . The Director shall prepare and update as necessary, summaries of
this chapter, the Auburn Building and Property Maintenance Code (ACC 15.20),
state RLTA (RCW 59.18), Forcible Entry and Forcible and Unlawful Detainer(RCW
59.12), and Fair Housing laws, describing the respective rights, obligations, and
remedies of landlords and tenants, including information about legal resources
available to tenants.
2. A landlord shall provide a copy of the summaries prepared by the
Director to any tenant or prospective tenant when a rental agreement is offered,
whether or not the agreement is for a new or renewal agreement.
3. Where there is an oral rental agreement, the landlord shall give the
tenant copies of the summaries described herein, either before entering into the
oral rental agreement or as soon as reasonably possible after entering into the oral
rental agreement.
4. For existing tenants, landlords shall, within 30 days after the
summaries are made available by the City, distribute current copies of the
summaries to existing tenants.
5. The initial distribution of information to tenants must be in written
form and landlords shall obtain the tenant's signature documenting tenant's receipt
of such information. If a tenant refuses to provide a signature documenting the
tenant's receipt of the information, the landlord may draft a declaration stating
when and where the landlord provided tenant with the required information. After
the initial distribution of the summaries to tenants, a landlord shall provide existing
tenants with updated summaries by the City, and may do so in electronic form
unless a tenant otherwise requests written summaries.
6. The packet prepared by the Director includes informational
documents only, and nothing in the summaries therein shall be construed as
binding on or affecting any judicial determination of the rights and responsibilities
of landlords and tenants, nor is the Director liable for any misstatement or
misinterpretation of the applicable laws.
C. Notice of resources. A landlord is required to provide a copy of
resource summary, prepared by the City, to any tenant when the landlord provides
a notice to a tenant under RCW 59.12.030.
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 4 of 13
5.23.040 Deposit requirements, notice of rent increase requirements and
installment payments permitted.
A. A landlord may not increase the rent or charge any non-rent charges
except in accordance with this section, unless such increase or charge has been
agreed to in writing signed by landlord and tenant at the time of entering into the
initial lease or rental agreement:
1 . A landlord may not increase the rent of a tenant by more than five
percent (5%) of the rent unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice
of the rent increase at least one hundred twenty (120) days before such increase
shall take effect. Any rental increase of five percent (5%) or less may be served
in accordance with state or other applicable law.
(a) Pursuant to RCW 58.19.140, if the rental agreement governs a
subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the
tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, a landlord shall
provide a minimum of thirty days' prior written notice of an increase in the amount
of rent to each affected tenant. An increase in the amount of rent may become
effective upon completion of the term of the rental agreement or sooner upon
mutual consent.
(b) Any notice of a rent increase shall be served in accordance with
ROW 59.12.040.
2. Any amount paid to the landlord by the tenant at the commencement
of the tenancy charged for the purpose of procuring and obtaining a dwelling unit,
including the deposit or as security for performance of the tenant's obligations in a
lease or rental agreement, must not exceed the allowable monthly rent as
permitted by this chapter; Any landlord under this section must offer to the tenant
prior to entering into the rental agreement the opportunity to pay amounts as
deposit or security for performance over six months upon moving into the unit.
However, additional security deposits may be added for tenants that have pets
provided that those deposits are reasonable and do not embed other types of
deposits or fees.
3. Any fees for late payment of rent shall not exceed ten dollars
($10.00) per month. No other fees may be charged for late payment of rent,
including for the service of any notice required under state law, or any legal costs,
including court costs and attorney's fees, unless such fee is agreed to in writing
signed by landlord and tenant at the time of entering into the initial lease or rental
agreement.
4. No other fees may be charged in connection with the lease or rental
agreement unless such fee is agreed to in writing signed by landlord and tenant at
the time of entering into the initial lease or rental agreement, Provided that the
landlord may recoup from the tenant actual costs incurred by the landlord and
caused by or attributable to the tenant if consistent with written the lease or rental
agreement.
B. Installment payments, generally. Upon a tenant's written request,
tenants may pay security deposits, non-refundable move-in fees, and/or last
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 5 of 13
month's rent in installments as provided herein; except that the tenant cannot elect
to pay the security deposit and non-refundable move-in fees in installments if (1)
the total amount of the security deposit and nonrefundable move-in fees does not
exceed 25 percent of the first full month's rent for the tenant's dwelling unit; and
(2) payment of last month's rent is not required at the inception of the tenancy.
Landlords may not impose any fee, charge any interest, or otherwise impose a
cost on a tenant because a tenant elects to pay in installments. Installment
payments are due at the same time as rent is due. All installment schedules must
be in writing, signed by both parties.
B. Fixed-term tenancies for three months or longer. For any rental
agreement term that establishes a tenancy for three months or longer, the tenant
may elect to pay the security deposit, non-refundable move-in fees, and last
month's rent, excluding any payment made by a tenant to the landlord prior to the
inception of tenancy to reimburse the landlord for the cost of obtaining a tenant
screening report, in three consecutive, equal monthly installments that begin at the
inception of the tenancy.
C. Month-to-month or two-month tenancy. For any rental agreement
term that establishes a tenancy from month-to-month or two months, the tenant
may elect to pay the security deposit, non-refundable move-in fees, and last
month's rent, excluding any payment made by a tenant to the landlord prior to the
inception of tenancy to reimburse the landlord for the cost of obtaining a tenant
screening report, in two equal installments. The first payment is due at the
inception of the tenancy, and the second payment is due on the first day of the
second month or period of the tenancy.
D. A tenant's failure to pay a security deposit, non-refundable move-in
fees, and last month's rent according to an agreed payment schedule is a breach
of the rental agreement and subjects the tenant to a fourteen-day notice pursuant
to RCW 59.12.030(4), and shall mean that the entire amount of any outstanding
payments shall become due when the next rent payment is due, unless otherwise
agreed to in writing by the landlord and tenant.
E. Paying in installments does not apply to a landlord obtaining a tenant
screening report, which report cost paid by the tenant shall be limited to the
standard and actual cost of the tenant screening report.
F. No security deposit may be collected by a landlord unless the rental
agreement is in writing and a written checklist or statement specifically describing
the condition and cleanliness of or existing damages to the premises and
furnishings, including, but not limited to, walls, floors, countertops, carpets, drapes,
furniture, and appliances, is provided by the landlord to the tenant at the beginning
of the tenancy. The checklist or statement shall be signed and dated by the
landlord and the tenant, and the tenant shall be provided with a copy of the signed
checklist or statement.
G. A landlord must place any required security deposit in a trust account
and provide a written receipt and notice of the name, address, and location of the
depository and any subsequent change thereof to the tenant, in compliance with
the requirements of RCW 59.18.270.
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 6 of 13
H. Nothing in this Chapter 5.23 prohibits a landlord from bringing an
action against a tenant to recover sums exceeding the amount of the tenant's
security deposit for damage to the dwelling unit for which the tenant is responsible.
The landlord may seek attorney's fees for such an action as authorized by chapter
59.18 RCW.
5.23.050 Notice requirement generally - reasonable accommodation request.
A landlord shall review and comply with all reasonable accommodation
requests received from a tenant related to the service of any notice required by
this chapter.
5.23.060 Notice of proposed sale of low-income housing.
A. Owners of a multifamily rental housing building having five or more
housing units, anyone of which rents for an amount that is affordable to households
at or below 80 percent of area median income, as median income was most
recently determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development, shall notify the Director of the owner's intent to sell the building. The
notice shall be in writing and include the owner's name, phone number, and the
address of the rental housing building that will be listed for sale. The notice shall
be mailed no later than 60 days prior to the building being listed with any real estate
service or advertised for sale either in a printed newspaper or website. For the
purposes of this subsection, a building is "listed" when an owner has signed a
listing agreement with a real estate agent. Owners of multifamily buildings having
five or more housing units who are otherwise required by law or agreement to notify
the Director of the owner's intent to sell or transfer the building and who have
provided such notice are exempt from the notice requirement of this subsection.
The following exceptions apply:
1 . Properties that are transferred to family members, transferred
through will, or that are not listed for sale; or
2. Properties where 20% or fewer of the units are studio apartments
and that is what is triggering the notice provisions of this section.
5.23.070 Just Cause Eviction
A. Pursuant to provisions of the Washington State Residential
Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18.290), owners may not evict residential tenants
without a court order, which can be issued by a court only after the tenant has an
opportunity in a show cause hearing to contest the eviction (RCW 59.18.380).
Owners of housing units shall not evict or attempt to evict any tenant, refuse to
renew or continue a tenancy after expiration of the rental agreement, or otherwise
terminate or attempt to terminate the tenancy of any tenant unless the owner can
prove in court that just cause exists. Owners may not evict residential tenants from
rental housing units if the units are not licensed with the City of Auburn as required
by ACC Chapter 5.62, regardless of whether just cause for eviction may exist. An
owner is in compliance with licensing requirement if the rental housing unit is
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 7 of 13
licensed with the City of Auburn pursuant to ACC Chapter 5.62 before entry of a
court order authorizing eviction or before a writ of restitution is granted. A court
may grant a continuance in an eviction action in order to give the owner time to
license the rental housing unit. The reasons for termination of tenancy listed below,
and no others, shall constitute just cause under this Section ACC 5.23.070:
1. The tenant fails to comply with a fourteen-day notice to pay rent or
vacate pursuant to RCW 59.12.030(3); a ten day notice to comply or vacate
pursuant to RCW 59.12.030(4); or a three day notice to vacate for waste, nuisance
(including a drug-related activity nuisance pursuant to chapter RCW 7.43), or
maintenance of an unlawful business or conduct pursuant to RCW 59.12.030(5);
2. The tenant habitually fails to pay rent when due which causes the
owner to notify the tenant in writing of late rent four or more times in a 12-month
period;
3. The tenant fails to comply with a ten-day notice to comply or vacate
that requires compliance with a material term of the rental agreement or that
requires compliance with a material obligation under chapter 59.18.130 RCW;
4. The tenant habitually fails to comply with the material terms of the
rental agreement which causes the owner to serve a ten-day notice to comply or
vacate three or more times in a 12-month period;
5. The owner seeks possession so that the owner or a member of his
or her immediate family may occupy the unit as that person's principal residence
and no substantially equivalent unit is vacant and available in the same building,
and the owner has given the tenant at least 90 days' advance written notice of the
date the tenant's possession is to end. The Director may reduce the time required
to give notice to no less than 60 days if the Director determines that delaying
occupancy will result in a personal hardship to the owner or to the owner's
immediate family. Personal hardship may include but is not limited to hardship
caused by illness or accident, unemployment, or job relocation. There is a
rebuttable presumption of a violation of this subsection 5.23.070(A)(5) if the owner
or a member of the owner's immediate family fails to occupy the unit as that
person's principal residence for at least 60 consecutive days during the 90 days
immediately after the tenant vacated the unit pursuant to a notice of termination or
eviction using this subparagraph as the cause for eviction;
6. The owner elects to sell a dwelling unit subject to the provisions of
this Chapter and gives the tenant at least 90 days' written notice prior to the date
set for vacating, which date shall coincide with the end of the term of a rental
agreement, or if the agreement is month to month, with the last day of a monthly
period. The Director may reduce the time required to give notice to no less than 60
days if the Director determines that providing 90 days' notice will result in a
personal hardship to the owner. Personal hardship may include but is not limited
to hardship caused by illness or accident, unemployment, or job relocation. For the
purposes of this subsection, an owner "elects to sell" when the owner makes
reasonable attempts to sell the dwelling within 30 days after the tenant has
vacated, including, at a minimum, listing it for sale at a reasonable price with a
realty agency or advertising it for sale at a reasonable price in a newspaper of
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 8 of 13
general circulation. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the owner did not
intend to sell the unit if:
(a) Within 30 days after the tenant has vacated, the owner does not list
the single-family dwelling unit for sale at a reasonable price with a realty agency
or advertise it for sale at a reasonable price in a newspaper of general circulation,
or
(b) Within 90 days after the date the tenant vacated or the date the
property was listed for sale, whichever is later, the owner withdraws the rental unit
from the market, rents the unit to someone other than the former tenant, or
otherwise indicates that the owner does not intend to sell the unit;
7. The tenant's occupancy is conditioned upon employment on the
property and the employment relationship is terminated;
8. The owner seeks to do substantial rehabilitation in the building and
gives the tenant at least 120 days' written notice prior to the date set for vacating.
To utilize this basis as the rationale for termination, the owner must obtain at least
one permit necessary for the rehabilitation before terminating the tenancy;
9. The owner elects to demolish the building, convert it to a cooperative,
or convert it to a nonresidential use and gives the tenant at least 120 days' written
notice prior to the date set for vacating. To utilize this basis as the rationale for
termination, the owner must obtain a permit necessary to demolish or change the
use before terminating any tenancy or converts the building to a condominium;
10. The owner seeks to discontinue use of a housing unit unauthorized
by ACC 18 after receipt of a notice of violation;
11 . The owner seeks to reduce the number of individuals residing in a
dwelling unit to comply with the maximum limit of individuals allowed to occupy one
dwelling unit as required by ACC Titles 15 and 18, and
(a)(1) The number of such individuals was more than is lawful under the
current version of ACC Title 15 or Title 18; and
(2) That number has not increased with the knowledge or consent of the
owner; and
(3) The owner is either unwilling or unable to obtain a permit to allow the
unit with that number of residents and
(b) The owner has served the tenants with a 30-day notice, informing
the tenants that the number of tenants exceeds the legal limit and must be reduced
to the legal limit; and
(c) After expiration of the 30-day notice, the owner has served the
tenants with and the tenants have failed to comply with a ten-day notice to comply
with the limit on the number of occupants or vacate, and
(d) If there is more than one rental agreement for the unit, the owner
may choose which agreements to terminate; provided that, the owner may either
terminate no more than the minimum number of rental agreements necessary to
comply with the legal limit on the number of occupants, or, at the owner's option,
terminate only those agreements involving the minimum number of occupants
necessary to comply with the legal limit;
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 9 of 13
12. An emergency order requiring that the housing unit be vacated and
closed has been issued pursuant to ACC 15 and the emergency conditions
identified in the order have not been corrected;
13. The owner seeks to discontinue sharing with a tenant of the owner's
own housing unit, i.e., the unit in which the owner resides, seeks to terminate the
tenancy of a tenant of an accessory dwelling unit that is accessory to the housing
unit in which the owner resides, or seeks to terminate the tenancy of a tenant in a
single-family dwelling unit and the owner resides in an accessory dwelling unit on
the same lot. This subsection does not apply if the owner has received a notice of
violation of the development standards of ACC Title 19;
14. A tenant, or with the consent of the tenant, the tenant's subtenant,
sublessee, resident, or guest, has engaged in criminal activity on the premises, or
on the property or public right-of-way abutting the premises, and the owner has
specified in the notice of termination the crime alleged to have been committed
and the general facts supporting the allegation, and has assured that the
Department has recorded receipt of a copy of the notice of termination. For
purposes of this subsection a person has "engaged in criminal activity" if he or she:
a. Engages in drug-related activity that would constitute a violation of
chapters 69.41,69.50, or 69.52 RCW, or
b. Engages in activity that is a crime under the laws of this state, but
only if the activity substantially affects the health or safety of other tenants or the
owner.
B. Any rental agreement provision which waives or purports to waive
any right, benefit or entitlement created by this Subsection 5.23.070 shall be
deemed void and of no lawful force or effect.
C. With any termination notices required by law, owners terminating or
refusing to renew or continue a tenancy protected by this section shall advise the
affected tenant or tenants in writing of the reasons for the termination and the facts
in support of those reasons;
D. If a tenant who has received a notice of termination or nonrenewal of
tenancy claiming subsection 5.23.O7O(A)(5), 5.23.07O(A)(6) or 5.23.O7O(A)(13) as
the ground for termination believes that the owner does not intend to carry out the
stated reason for eviction and makes a complaint to the Director, then the owner
must, within ten days of being notified by the Director of the complaint, complete
and file with the Director a certification stating the owner's intent to carry out the
stated reason for the eviction. The failure of the owner to complete and file such a
certification after a complaint by the tenant shall be a defense for the tenant in an
eviction action based on this ground.
E. In any action commenced to evict, refuse to renew or continue a
tenancy after expiration of the rental agreement, or to otherwise terminate the
tenancy of any tenant, it shall be a defense to the action that there was no just
cause for such eviction or termination as provided in this section.
F. It shall be a violation of this section for any owner to evict or attempt
to evict any tenant, refuse to renew or continue a tenancy after expiration of the
rental agreement, or otherwise terminate or attempt to terminate the tenancy of
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 10 of 13
any tenant using a notice which references subsections 5.23.O7O(A)(5),
5.23.07O(A)(6), 5.23.O7O(A)(8), 5.23.O70(A)(11), 5.23.070(A)(12) or
5.23.O7O(A)(13) as grounds for eviction or termination of tenancy without fulfilling
or carrying out the stated reason for or condition justifying the termination of such
tenancy.
G. An owner who evicts or attempts to evict a tenant, refuses to renew
or continue a tenancy after expiration of the rental agreement, or who terminates
or attempts to terminate the tenancy of a tenant using a notice which references
subsections 5.23.O70(A)(5), 5.23.O7O(A)(6) 5.23.070 (A)(8) as the ground for
eviction or termination of tenancy without fulfilling or carrying out the stated reason
for or condition justifying the termination of such tenancy shall be liable to such
tenant in a private right for action for damages up to $2,000, costs of suit, or
arbitration and reasonable attorney's fees.
5.23.080 Compliance and enforcement.
A. Powers and duties of the Director.
1 . The Director is authorized to enforce this chapter and may
promulgate rules and regulations consistent with this chapter.
2. The Director shall attempt to settle by agreement any alleged
violation or failures to comply with the provisions of this chapter; provided that
nothing herein shall create a right or entitlement of a landlord to settlement by
agreement.
3. The Director is authorized to request records from landlord and the
landlord shall allow the Director access to such records, as well as a complete
roster of tenants' names and contact information, when requested, with at least
five business days' notice and at a mutually agreeable time, to investigate potential
violations of the requirements of this chapter.
B. Violation.
1. If a violation of this chapter occurs, the Director shall utilize the
procedures outlined in Chapter 5.15 ACC.
2. The Director may waive or reduce the penalty if the landlord comes
into compliance within ten days of the Notice of Violation or shows that its failure
to comply was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. If the Director finds
a willful violation of this chapter, which resulted in a Notice of Violation outlined
above, the Director may issue a Penalty that shall be $1,000.
3. Any civil penalties paid by the landlord shall be kept by the City and
may be utilized to help offset payments that are due by the tenant.
4. Any tenant claiming injury from any violation of this chapter shall be
entitled to bring an action in King County Superior Court or in any other court of
competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and shall be
entitled to all remedies available at law or in equity appropriate to remedy any
violation of this chapter, including declaratory or injunctive relief. A tenant who
prevails in any action to enforce this chapter shall be awarded his or her costs,
reasonable attorneys' fees, and expenses.
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 11 of 13
a. A landlord who violates this chapter shall be liable for penalties of up
to two times the monthly rent of the dwelling unit at issue.
b. Failure of a landlord to comply with any of the provisions of this
chapter shall provide the tenant with a defense in any legal action brought by the
landlord to recover possession of the dwelling unit.
D. Administrative Review by the Director
1 . General. A person to whom a Notice of Violation or penalty is
assessed may request an administrative review of the Notice of Violation or
penalty.
2. How to request administrative review. A person may request an
administrative review of the Notice of Violation or penalty by filing a written request
with the Director within ten-days from the date the Notice of Violation or penalty
was issued. The request shall state, in writing, the reasons the Director should
review the Notice of Violation or penalty. Failure to state the basis for the review in
writing shall be cause for dismissal of the review. Upon receipt of the request for
administrative review, the Director shall review the information provided. The City
has the burden to prove a violation exists by a preponderance of the evidence.
3. Decision of Director. After considering all of the information provided,
the Director shall determine whether a violation has occurred and shall affirm,
vacate, suspend, or modify the Notice of Violation or penalty. The Director's
decision shall be delivered, in writing, to the person to whom the notice of violation
was issued by personal delivery or first-class mail.
E. Appeals to the Hearing Examiner of Director's Decision. Appeal of
the Director's decision shall be made within ten days from the date of the Director's
decision by filing a written notice of appeal, clearly stating the grounds that the
appeal is based upon, with the Hearing Examiner, which appeal shall be governed
by ACC Chapters 2.46 and 5.15.
Section 2. Implementation. The Mayor is authorized to implement those
administrative procedures necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation. With
respect to the informational requirements established in ACC 5.23.030, City staff will
develop the materials and webpage prior to the October 16, 2020 implementation date.
The City encourages and welcomes the public to provide examples from other sources.
Examples must be provided by September 18, 2020.
Section 3. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be
separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
section, or portion of this Ordinance, or the invalidity of the application of it to any person
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 12 of 13
or circumstance, will not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance, or the validity
of its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 4. Effective date. This Ordinance will take effect five days from and
after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and shall have an
implementation date that begins on October 16, 2020.
SEP 0 8 2020
INTRODUCED:
PASSED: SEP 0 8 2020
APPROVED: Sp 0 8 2020
CITY OF AUBURN
ANCY US, MAYQR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Shawn Campbell, MMC, City Clerk Kendra Comeau", City Attorney
Published: �� �. �� , �>
Ordinance No. 6786
September 1, 2020
Page 13 of 13