Bellingham landlord law
Bellingham Landlord Documents
Bellingham requires 120 days' notice before every residential rent increase; at 8%, the separate relocation-assistance rules begin.
Reviewed September 2026 • Bellingham, Washington
Before you use any document on this page: we recommend having your attorney review it first. Laws and required forms change, city ordinances add requirements on top of state law, and a notice that is defective in form or timing can cost far more than a legal review. This page is general information for property owners, not legal advice.
Bellingham requires 120 days' advance notice before every residential rent increase under BMC 6.12. The city’s Economic Displacement Assistance chapter (BMC 6.14) adds a separate layer when rent or associated housing costs rise 8% or more over a rolling 12-month period: the notice is served consistent with RCW 59.12.040 and can trigger relocation assistance.
For an increase that triggers BMC 6.14, the notice's contents are prescribed: the amount of the increase, the new total, the effective date, a rationale for the increase, the total relocation assistance available, and a statement of the tenant's rights — including the right to request relocation assistance within 45 days of receiving the notice.
The relocation assistance a tenant may claim
For an increase that triggers BMC 6.14, a tenant who requests assistance within the 45-day window is owed payment within 31 calendar days of the request: the larger of three times the current HUD fair market monthly rent for Bellingham for an apartment of the same size, or three times the tenant's existing monthly rent. The tenant then has a five-month relocation period — and a tenant who stays past it owes the increased rent and repays the assistance. An 8% increase in Bellingham is therefore a different financial decision than a 7.9% one, but both require the basic 120-day notice.
Registration
Bellingham also operates a rental registration and safety inspection program under BMC 6.15. Registration is a standing obligation, not a per-notice one — but like Tacoma's licensing gate, it belongs on the same compliance checklist as the documents themselves.
Official sources
Current city guidance: 120 days before every residential rent increase, with 8% as the relocation-assistance threshold.
cob.org
The 8% relocation-assistance trigger, prescribed contents and the tenant's request window.
bellingham.municipal.codes
Bellingham's registration program for rental units.
bellingham.municipal.codes
The city's program page for registering rental units.
cob.org
Frequently asked questions
When does Bellingham require 120 days' notice for a rent increase? +
Before every residential rent increase. The 8% threshold is for BMC 6.14 relocation assistance, not for the basic 120-day notice requirement.
What relocation assistance applies in Bellingham? +
For an increase that triggers BMC 6.14, and if requested within 45 days of the notice, the larger of three times HUD's current fair market rent for Bellingham for the same-size apartment or three times the tenant's existing rent, paid within 31 days of the request.
What extra information is required when an increase triggers Bellingham relocation assistance? +
The increase amount, the new total, the effective date, a rationale, the relocation assistance available, and the tenant's rights — including the 45-day request window and the five-month relocation period (BMC 6.14.020).
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to one of these. Rent caps change annually and city ordinances change by council action — check the current figure before serving a notice.
- City of Bellingham — rent increase notification FAQ — verified 2026-09-11
- BMC 6.14.020 — verified 2026-09-11
- BMC ch. 6.15 — verified 2026-09-11
This page is general information for property owners, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Rules differ by property and by circumstance — consult an attorney licensed in Washington before acting on a notice, an eviction or a deposit dispute.
We serve these notices every week
Utopia Management has managed Bellingham rentals since 1994. Compliance with the notice periods, the caps and the paperwork above is part of full management, not an extra.
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