Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Tukwila Opts for Rental Licensing/Inspections- and Bellingham?

The city of Tukwila opted in a 7-0 council vote (click here) on 19 April to begin a rental licensing and inspection program for the 4,000 rental units within the municipality. The program is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2011. Some of the prior discussion of the licensing law can be found by clicking here. Tukwila joins Pasco, Prosser, and Seattle; Washington cities that have adopted licensing and inspection laws.

Tukwila is undergoing the same financial pressures as other cities in Washington State. Their City Council minutes are replete with references to and discussions of fiscal problems (click here to read some council minutes) yet they have found the courage to do the right thing in the realm of health and safety for the thousands of home and apartment renters there. This blogger spoke to Tukwila's code enforcement officer yesterday at length. She indicated that this was the culmination of over 10 years of effort to clean up the dilapidated rentals in Tukwila.

With some imagination, the City of Bellingham can do the same.

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