Why We Believe This Matters in Washington
Washington State — and Seattle in particular — has been a leader in rethinking how criminal history is used in housing decisions. The Seattle Fair Chance Housing Ordinance prohibits using criminal history to deny housing. The state AG is active on consumer protection and tech accountability.
Fair Housing Laws in Washington
Washington Law Against Discrimination
Prohibits housing discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, honorably discharged veteran/military status, and disability.
Seattle Fair Chance Housing Ordinance (SMC 14.09)
Prohibits housing providers from using criminal history to deny housing. Bans discriminatory advertising such as "no felons." While it applies to rental housing, its principles influence housing policy statewide.
Seattle Fair Chance HousingSeattle Fair Chance Housing FAQ
Fair Chance Housing FAQ (PDF)Seattle Office for Civil Rights
Seattle OCR — Fair HousingSources Reviewed — Quick Reference Links
Official third-party sources provided for your review. We do not control and are not responsible for external content.
Disclaimer: This page reflects Tether RE's views and summarizes sources our legal team reviewed in forming our filtering approach. It is for informational purposes only. This is not considered legal advice. Laws change frequently and summaries may be incomplete or outdated. Consult qualified legal counsel licensed in Washington for guidance specific to your practice. Last updated: May 2026.