Two of the most common questions we get, from both sides of a lease, are what a landlord can charge for a pet and whether an emotional support animal counts. The answers depend on something most articles skip entirely: which side of the Olympia city line the property sits on.
Every Washington lease signed from January 1, 2027 has to carry a flood disclosure. Substitute Senate Bill 6237, Chapter 234 of the 2026 laws, was signed on March 27, 2026 and adds a new subsection (13) to RCW 59.18.060, the statute that lists what a landlord must do. The bill
Smoke reached Thurston County again this month. On August 3, 2026 smoke from eastern Washington fires pushed into the Puget Sound lowlands, and by August 4 the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency reported that a National Weather Service air quality alert covering Thurston County had been extended to Mason and
Certified mail is no longer required to serve a termination notice in Washington. House Bill 2664, Chapter 144, Laws of 2026, took effect on June 11, 2026 and rewrote the mailing rules in RCW 59.12.040. Where personal delivery fails, the mailed copy of a notice may now go by regular
Washington landlords can no longer ban tenants from installing portable air conditioners. Under ESSB 6200, effective June 11, 2026, tenants may install portable cooling devices — including window, saddle, and floor units — and landlords may not charge a fee for installation, use, or inspection. Landlords can still refuse in
Most rental owners prefer a twelve month lease because it feels like guaranteed income. In Washington, that guarantee is weaker than it looks, and the flexibility you give up for it is real. Here is the case for month-to-month, made with the actual statutes. What you can change with proper
