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Ballot question

City of Tacoma Initiative 1: tenant protections, enforcement and landlord licensing

On the ballot in
City of Tacoma
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Initiative Measure No. 1 concerns tenant safety and protection laws. This measure would improve compliance with tenant safety and protection laws through: landlord education and training, recognizing tenants' right to organize, requiring landlords to bargain in good faith with tenant unions, establishing a public landlord information database, providing for City and private enforcement of tenant safety and protection laws, imposition of penalties and cost recovery, requiring landlord rental licensing and fees, authorizing revocation of landlord business licenses, prohibiting retaliation, and establishing certain exemptions. Should this measure be enacted into law?

A “Yes” vote means

Tacoma adopts new tenant protection rules, including tenant unions, a complaint and enforcement process, landlord rental licensing with per-unit fees, and penalties for violations.

A “No” vote means

Tacoma's rental housing and landlord rules stay as they are now; the initiative's new programs, licensing and enforcement are not adopted.

Official plain English statement

This measure would, if passed, amend the Tacoma rental housing code (RHC) and business license code, make certain provisions of state landlord tenant law enforceable under the RHC, add an administrative complaint process and additional enforcement provisions to the RHC and Tacoma landlord fairness code, and require the City to develop and implement new tenant programs and rules implementing all provisions of the Initiative. This measure would, add additional landlord and tenant education requirements; expand existing landlord database requirements; allow tenants to organize; require landlords to bargain with tenants in good faith; authorize private enforcement by tenants and representative organizations; provide a right to appeal relocation decisions; allow tenants to file administrative complaints requiring investigation and enforcement by the City; require the City to implement a tiered rental licensing program for all landlords with per unit fees; authorize revocation of business licenses for certain violations by landlords; transfer to impacted tenants penalties imposed for violations; require city reimbursement of costs and attorney's fees expended by tenants and representative organizations when successfully defendiing or enforcing the Initiative; require inspections of landlord properties for violations involving habitability or tenant safety; and, prohibit landlords from retaliation against tenants and waivers of tenants' rights.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.