No property owner, property manager, landlord or agent who rents or leases rental units may refuse to rent or lease a rental unit to any tenant or prospective tenant, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against that person, solely on the basis that the person proposes to pay a portion of the rent from a source of income as defined in this chapter.
(Ord. 2526 § 2, 2017)
For purposes of this chapter, the following words or phrases shall have the meaning prescribed as follows:
1. 
"Source of income"
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.
2. 
Other terms used in this chapter shall be defined as set forth in Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 5.06, “Residential Rental Business License and Inspection Program.”
(Ord. 2526 § 3, 2017)
Nothing in this chapter will apply if the rental unit does not qualify for participation in the tenant’s “source of income” program, although any property owner or manager that refuses to rent a rental unit to a person on this basis must notify that person in writing of the reasons why the rental unit is ineligible. Refusal to allow a health and safety inspection of the property by a public housing authority shall not be considered a legitimate basis for refusing to rent due to program ineligibility.
(Ord. 2526 § 4, 2017)
Nothing in this chapter shall:
1. 
Apply if the tenant’s source of income is pre-scheduled to terminate during the term of the initial lease;
2. 
Apply to the renting, subrenting, leasing or subleasing of a portion of a single-family dwelling, wherein the owner or person entitled to possession thereof maintains a permanent residence, home or abode therein;
3. 
Prohibit a religious organization, association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, from limiting the rental or occupancy of dwellings it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion, or from giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion is restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin or other illegal discriminatory basis;
4. 
Be construed to prohibit treating people with a disability more favorably than people who do not have a disability; or
5. 
Be construed to protect criminal conduct or prohibit any person from limiting the rental or occupancy of a dwelling based on the use of force, threats, or violent behavior by an occupant or prospective occupant.
(Ord. 2526 § 5, 2017)
Violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to enforcement and penalties as prescribed in TMC Chapter 8.45 and the issuance of a Notice of Violation in accordance with TMC Section 8.45.070.
(Ord. 2526 § 6, 2017; Ord. 2549 § 14, 2017)