Rental Business
The activity of renting or leasing real property (residential dwellings, land, or commercial buildings) requires a business license. One business license will cover all properties owned by the same legal entity. Property owners are required to register every rental property located in Tacoma when licensing and certify that each property meets the requirements of RCW 59.18.060.
It has been statistically demonstrated that some rental properties are responsible for a disproportionate share of police and emergency medical calls for service and blighted property conditions. The license fee provides revenues to the City’s general fund that help support the Landlord-Tenant Program, crime prevention training and education, and essential services such as public safety officers and street maintenance.
Apply for a New Business License
When applying for a business license for rental business activity, the application must be in the legal property owner’s name or entity that is on record with Pierce County.
Ways to Apply
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The easiest way to apply; use FileLocal to register online. User fees apply. Allow three to five business days to process your application.
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Complete the application that matches your rental type from the options below. Allow up to 15 business days from the date you mail the application to receive your license.
Applications
- Single Unit Rental Property Application
- Multi-Unit Rental Property Application
- Commercial Rental Property Application
Supplemental Forms (to add or update properties)
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Complete the application that matches your rental type from the options below. Allow up to one hour to process a new business license application. Applications received after 4 PM will be accepted, however, may not be processed the same day.
Applications
- Single Unit Rental Property Application
- Multi-Unit Rental Property Application
- Commercial Rental Property Application
Supplemental Forms (to add or update properties)
Quick Links
Provisional Rental Property License
Rental housing is a valuable community asset, providing homes for all income levels and the City recognizes that quality rental housing is a partnership between owners, tenants, and the City. The City has found that three to five percent of homes in Tacoma are below the minimum building standards and appear from the outside of the home to violate RCW 59.18.060.
As a result, to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens and the maintenance of quality rental housing for Tacomans, the City established a residential provisional rental property license program to prevent and correct conditions in residential rental units that adversely affect or are likely to adversely affect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The program is intended to address that small percentage of housing that endangers renters and bring that housing into compliance with RCW 59.18.060.
Provisional Rental Property FAQsÂ
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The provisional license is a three-year license that the City requires of residential property owners if their property is found to be endangering the health or safety of tenants. One of the requirements of the provisional license is a certificate of inspection that will demonstrate that the property does not endanger the health or safety of tenants. The provisional license is based on State Legislation adopted in 2010 and is consistent with the Landlord-Tenant Act.
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The provisional license is not required for all rental property owners. If the City receives a complaint about the property and upon an exterior and/or interior inspection of the building the condition meets a sub-standard condition according to the minimum building structures code, a provisional license will be required. Property owners will be contacted by the City if their property needs a Provisional Rental Property License.
The Provisional Rental Property License is in addition to any requirements that the City’s Neighborhood Community Services (NCS) Department may require of the property owner (i.e. substandard housing or derelict building declaration) and the property owner may receive notifications from both NCS and Tax & License.
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To ensure your property meets the standards outlined in the State Landlord Tenant Act, Title 59, Section 59.18.060, review the Guide to Residential Rental Inspection.
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If you have been notified that you need to obtain a Provisional Rental Property License, a Residential Rental Inspection Form and a signed Certificate of Inspection must be completed by a City Code Enforcement Officer, or a Qualified Inspector as defined in Tacoma Municipal Code 6B.165.