For the purposes of this chapter:
"Child" or "student"means any person either under the age of 18 years or currently enrolled in a school.
"Deed restricted affordable housing"means real estate that is required to be used as affordable housing for a period of time of at least 30 years pursuant to a restrictive covenant or similar enforceable, recorded instrument, with income targets that are no higher than 80 percent of area median income.
"Dwelling unit" or "unit"is defined under RCW
59.18.030, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and means a structure or part of a structure used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one, two, or more persons maintaining a common household, including, but not limited to, single-family residences and multiplexes, apartment buildings, and mobile homes.
means any person who works at a school in Tacoma as an employee or independent contractor of the school or its governing body, including, but not limited to, all teachers, substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, substitute paraprofessionals, administrators, administrative staff, counselors, social workers, psychologists, school nurses, speech pathologists, custodians, cafeteria workers, and maintenance workers.
"Eviction" or "evict"is an effort by the landlord to terminate or discontinue the tenancy through any means, including unlawful detainer, refusing to offer a new lease, or seeking a mutual termination agreement.
"Immediate family"is defined under RCW
59.18.030, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and includes state-registered domestic partner, spouse, parents, grandparents, children, including foster children, siblings, and in-laws.
is defined under RCW
59.18.030, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and means the owner, lessor, or sublessor 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 sublessor including, but not limited to, an agent, a resident manager, or a designated property manager.
include all charges imposed by the landlord on a tenant prior to taking possession of a dwelling unit, or as a condition of maintaining residency, including, but not limited to, fees required to apply for tenancy (including processing fees and credit and background check charges), security deposits, prepayment of rent (e.g., "last month's rent"), but excluding a valid pet fee.
"Nonprofit entity"is defined under RCW
84.36.560, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and includes:
a. "Nonprofit," as defined in RCW
84.36.800, that is exempt from income tax under Section 501(c) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code;
"Limited partnership," where a nonprofit as defined in RCW
84.36.800, that is exempt from income tax under Section 501(c) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, a public corporation established under RCW
35.21.660,
35.21.670, or
35.21.730, a housing authority created under RCW
35.82.030 or
35.82.300, or a housing authority meeting the definition in RCW
35.82.210(2)(a) is a general partner;
"Limited liability company," where a nonprofit as defined in RCW
84.36.800, that is exempt from income tax under Section 501(c) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, a public corporation established under RCW
35.21.660,
35.21.670, or
35.21.730, a housing authority established under RCW
35.82.030 or
35.82.300, or a housing authority meeting the definition in RCW
35.82.210(2)(a) is a managing member; or
"Mobile home park cooperative" or a "manufactured housing cooperative," as defined in RCW
59.20.030.
"Owner"means one or more persons, or entities, jointly or severally, in whom is vested:
a. All or any part of the legal title to property; or
All or part of the beneficial ownership, and a right to present use and enjoyment of the property.
"Rent" or "rental amount"is defined under RCW
59.18.030, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and means recurring and periodic charges identified in the rental agreement for the use and occupancy of the premises, which may include charges for utilities. Except as provided in RCW
59.18.283(3), these terms do not include nonrecurring charges for costs incurred due to late payment, damages, deposits, legal costs, or other fees, including attorneys' fees. "Retaliatory eviction" is an eviction in response to a tenant's assertion of rights or protections afforded under this chapter or another tenant protection law.
is defined under RCW
59.18.030, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and 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.
means any child care, early childhood education and assistance program, or head start facility, and any public, private, or parochial institution that provides educational instruction in any or all of the grades and age groups up to and including 12th grade.
"School year"means the period from (and including) the first day of the academic year to the last day of the academic year, as set by Tacoma Public Schools, or its successor, on its calendar for first through twelfth grade students. If for those grades there are multiple dates for the first day or last day of the academic year, the earliest and latest dates, respectively, shall define the period.
"Tenant"is defined under RCW
59.18.030, as it exists or is hereinafter amended, and any person who is entitled to occupy a dwelling unit primarily for living or dwelling purposes under a rental agreement.
includes this chapter, RCW
59.18.060, RCW
59.18.240, and any other Federal, State, or local law or regulation designed to protect tenants, regardless of whether such laws or regulations are enacted before or after this chapter.
(Initiative Measure No. 1, 2023-11-07; Subst. Ord. 29086, 2025-12-09)