Rental Registration Program
The City of Vancouver is creating a new program designed to create a more transparent and supportive rental housing environment for landlords and tenants alike. This program is the first step toward ensuring quality housing and fostering better communication and collaboration between property owners, tenants and the City. Under the rental registration program, landlords will be required to:
- Register their rental units
- Pay an annual license fee
In the future, the program will also include requirements to:
- Conduct regular inspections
- Submit evidence of inspections to the City
This program will also enhance communication with landlords and tenants on requirements, policies and resources for rental housing, and create a tenant relocation assistance fund. This fund would provide money to renters who are forced to move, due to:
- Health and safety issues
- Non-compliance by their landlord
- Natural disasters
The City will implement this new initiative in two phases. Phase 1 involves establishing a rental registration program that will go live in 2026. Phase 2 of the program implementation, which will include the design and rollout of the proposed inspection requirement, will only begin after the registration program is underway in 2026.
At this time, the City is only seeking feedback and questions on the rental registration component of the program. Any questions and feedback submitted about inspection requirements will be retained and addressed during Phase 2 of program implementation.
Review the draft rental registration program and share your thoughts below.
Since 2016, several planning efforts, including the Affordable Housing Task Force, the Reside Vancouver anti-displacement plan, and the Heights Equitable Development Plan have recommended that rental properties be registered with the City and be inspected or certified habitable on a proactive, routine basis.
The rental registration program proposal was developed with the help of a community and industry advisory group. This group included housing providers, property management companies, attorneys, multifamily rental associations, tenants, homeless service providers, advocates, and the housing authority. The advisory group carefully weighed the benefits of collecting housing data and taking steps to ensure safe and healthy rental housing with the potential costs and other impacts of implementing the proposed program.
Many cities in Washington require rental registration and inspection. These programs were researched and reviewed with the advisory group to consider different policy options and state requirements. City Council reviewed the draft proposal developed by the advisory group at a workshop in October 2024 and requested that City staff proceed with developing the program requirements and procedures and bring those back to Council for action.
Community
- Well-maintained housing contributes to household stability and attractive neighborhoods, which can reduce vacancy rates, crime, and blight for existing residents.
- Well-maintained housing can also help attract new residents and businesses to an area.
- With better rental market data, the City can more easily identify affordable housing shortages or areas with higher housing preservation needs.
Landlords
- Educational components of the program can help clarify landlords' and tenants' responsibilities, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts.
- Registered landlords will gain access to resources and updates about important policies, programs and services that support property management. This includes timely communication regarding new opportunities and requirements.
Tenants
- Tenants can expect consistent quality and habitability in registered properties that demonstrate compliance with City standards and regulations.
- Tenants will have a clear contact for issues or repairs, encouraging accountability from landlords.
- Tenants will access resources and information provided by the City about their rights and responsibilities, fostering a stronger tenant-landlord relationship.
- Tenants will gain access to relocation funds to assist when properties are no longer safe or habitable.
City
- Registration will provide the City with accurate data on the location, quality, and ownership of rental properties, enabling data-driven housing and development policies.
- Having up-to-date contact information for property owners and managers allows the city to quickly reach landlords in case of emergencies, code changes, or public health issues.
- Information on the condition and age of properties helps the City monitor the housing stock and target investment or support to neighborhoods where housing conditions are most in need of improvement.
The City Council will review and act on necessary changes to the Vancouver Municipal Code to implement a rental registration program in March 2025. The process to update City code includes advertising the proposed changes and holding two city council meetings—one to introduce the ordinance and a separate public hearing where residents can provide feedback. After considering public input and discussion, the Council will vote to adopt, amend or reject the proposed changes.
In mid-2025, Vancouver anticipates unveiling a rental registration website to share program guidelines and FAQs about the program. Information will also be shared through City publications and outreach events.
Who's Listening
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Housing Programs Manager
