Fair Housing
- Race
- Color
- Ancestry
- Caste
- Immigration or Citizenship Status
- Sex
- Disability
- Creed
- Religion
- Age
- Retaliation
- Alternative sources of income
- National origin
- Marital status
- Political ideology
- Parental status
- Pregnancy outcomes
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Use of a service animal
- Use of a Section 8 certificate or other subsidy programs
- Military status or veteran
- Criminal history
- Gladly receiving inquiries from all.
- Applying fair and equitable criteria when evaluating applicants.
- Enforcing rules equally and without discrimination.
- Setting rents, deposits and fees without discrimination.
- Responding to repair requests and other tenant concerns equally.
- Providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
Inside Seattle, Contact:
City of Seattle
Office for Civil Rights
810 Third Avenue, Suite 750
Seattle, WA 98104-1627
(206) 684-4500, TTY 7-1-1
File a complaint online
Outside Seattle, Contact:
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
909 First Avenue, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98104-1000
(206) 220-5170
1 (800) 877-0246
Fair Housing Resources
Seattle Fair Housing Poster (Open Housing)
- Seattle Fair Housing Poster (Open Housing)
- SOCR Rules - Chapter 70: Fair Housing Posters - Posting Requirements
- Seattle Open Housing Poster - SMC Chapter 14.08.015
In August 2017, the City of Seattle passed Fair Chance Housing legislation to help prevent unfair bias in housing against renters with a past criminal record.
The new ordinance prevents landlords from unfairly denying applicants housing based on criminal history. It also prohibits the use of advertising language that automatically or categorically excludes people with arrest records, conviction records, or criminal history.
Visit the Fair Chance Housing page for more details. If you have been denied housing because of criminal history, file a complaint.
Source of Income Protections
Seattle's Open Housing Ordinance - SMC 14.08
Rules: Source of Income Protections
Frequently Asked Questions: Alternative Source of Income, Subsidies, and Preferred Employer Programs
For Renters and Property Managers
- Renting in Seattle: Renter's Handbook
- Tenant Screening: What You Need to Know When Applying for Rental Housing
Fair Housing and People With Disabilities
- Guide for People With Disabilities - Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications
- Guidance for Health Care and Qualified Professionals - Verifying Reasonable Accommodation and Modification Requests
Domestic Violence and Your Housing Rights
Fair Housing Guide For Renters and Home Buyers
For Housing Providers
- For Real Estate Professionals - FAQ (Top 100 Questions/Answers)
- For Nonprofit Housing and Shelter Providers - Fair Housing Guide
Sample Policies