Tacoma, Washington, Initiative 1, Rent Increase Regulations Measure (November 2023)

Tacoma Initiative 1
Election date November 7, 2023
Topic Local housing and Local rent control
Status Approved
Type Initiative

Tacoma Initiative 1 was on the ballot as an initiative in Tacoma on November 7, 2023. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported enacting certain requirements for landlords and rights for renters, including: requiring landlords to be in compliance with health and safety laws prior to evicting a tenant or increasing rent;  prohibiting unfair or excessive fees (as defined);  requiring landlords to provide two notices before increasing rent (first between 210 and 180 days prior and second between 120 and 90 days prior); requiring landlords to pay relocation assistance if the rent increase is above 5% equal to two months of rent (or higher if the increase is above 7.5%);  prohibiting evictions between November 1 and April 1; and  prohibiting the eviction of members of the military, first responders, seniors, family members, health care providers, or educators.

A "no" vote opposed enacting certain requirements for landlords and rights for renters.

Election results

Tacoma Initiative 1
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		21,903	50.43%
No		21,533	49.57%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

The initiative was designed to do the following:

• require landlords to be in compliance with health and safety laws prior to evicting a tenant or increasing rent;
• prohibit unfair or excessive fees (as defined);
• require landlords to provide two notices before increasing rent (first between 210 and 180 days prior and second between 120 and 90 days prior);
• require landlords to pay relocation assistance if the rent increase is above 5% equal to two months of rent, or two and a half months of rent for increases above 7.5%, or three months of rent if the increase is 10% or more;
• prohibit evictions of students, or during school years, or during cold weather months between November 1 and April 1;
• prohibit the eviction of members of the military, first responders, seniors, family members, health care providers, or educators; and
• assess penalties of not less than $500 and up to five times the monthly rent of the dwelling unit at issue per violation for landlords found to be in violation of the ordinance.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Initiative 1 was as follows:

“

Citizens’ Initiative Measure No. 1 concerns enacting rental requirements for landlords and rental rights for tenants. This measure would require landlords to comply with health and safety laws before raising rent or evicting a tenant; set limits on certain rental fees; require landlords provide two notices to increase rent and offer relocation assistance when the increase is 5% or more; create a defense against certain student/schoolyear evictions, evictions between November 1 and April 1, and evictions against servicemembers, seniors, families and others with protected status under the measure; and provide penalties and enforcement mechanisms. Should this measure be enacted into law?

”

Support

Tacoma For All led the campaign in support of the initiative.

Arguments

• Tacoma For All: "The real threat to small landlords and tenants alike is the rapid growth of outside investors buying up Tacoma’s rental housing. A whopping 70% of apartments sold last year were bought by private investors and real estate trusts. The outside firm that bought Tacoma’s Unionaire Apartments hiked rent by 60% for hundreds of low-income tenants. The Tenant Bill of Rights is needed to help curb the abuses of billionaire investors, to discourage excessive rent hikes, to help tenants resist the racist impacts of the profit-driven housing industry and to encourage all landlords, big and small, to treat tenants with dignity and respect."
• Tacoma landlord Bill Hanawalt: "Voting 'yes' on Initiative 1 makes both moral and fiscal sense for Tacoma residents, including Tacoma-based small landlords like me. ... Some landlords have expressed concern that Initiative 1 would hurt their businesses due to the prospect of paying relocation assistance. However, because landlords set the rent, the only way they’ll ever have to pay relocation assistance is if they choose to raise the rent over 5% in a six-month period. And when there is a vacancy, the landlord could choose to raise the rent to any amount without a penalty."

Opposition

Vote No on Measure 1 led the campaign in opposition to the measure.

Arguments

• Tacoma landlord Debby Herbert: "We do not want to (complete) any eviction, we work with them. This will prevent us evicting for nine months during the school year. But it can be for anyone (who) is a student, even if they take just one online class, and they can be of any age. So, it’s ripe for abuse."
• Vote No on Measure 1: "Measure 1 would hinder swift action against problem tenants and squatters, posing risks to community safety, cleanliness, and overall livability. Enforcing Measure 1 will lead to significant financial strain on taxpayers. The need for an expanded bureaucracy as well as potential legal complications could burden Tacoma’s residents financially. Implementing Measure 1 would disrupt the balance in housing dynamics within our community, potentially affecting housing availability and affordability when we are already experiencing a housing crisis."

Path to the ballot

The measure was placed on the ballot by an initiative petition sponsored by Tacoma For All.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Washington

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Washington.

How to vote in Washington

Poll times

Washington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age.

One may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at a county elections department. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through Election Day.

In 2018, Washington lawmakers enacted legislation providing for same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration.

Automatic registration

Washington automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, health benefit exchange, and other state agencies approved by the governor.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Washington has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Washington allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Washington law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Washington does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who knowingly provides false information or knowingly make a false declaration about their qualifications "will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Vote WA, run by the Washington Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Washington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law RCW 29A.40.160, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.”

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.

• Driver's license
• State identification card
• Student identification card
• Tribal identification card
• Employer identification card

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local sales tax on the ballot

Washington

• Washington 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Washington
• Tacoma, Washington

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas