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Also in During Your Tenancy
- Just Cause Eviction Protection
- Rental Housing Inspection
- Rental Agreement Regulation
- Seattle Utility Billing
- Housing & Building Maintenance
- Tenant Relocation Assistance
- Right to Organize
- Seattle Noise Laws
- Condo Conversion
- Fair Housing in Seattle
- Seattle Tenant Resources
- Rent Increase Prohibition - Units with Major Code Violations
- Seattle Laws FAQ
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To read the specific laws in the WA State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, click on the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) links throughout the Tenant Services website.
Tenants Union Tenant Counselors are not attorneys, and this information should not be considered legal advice. Please read our full Tenant Union Disclaimer.
Know Your Rights » During Your Tenancy » Seattle Laws
Seattle Noise Laws
Seattle noise laws are enforced by the Seattle Police Department. Seattle laws regulate “residential disturbances” and “unreasonable noise” in the city limits. For more information, see Seattle Police Department: Avoiding Noise. You can call the non-emergency Seattle police number at 206-625-5011 to report noise violations, but it can be very difficult to get police response, especially on weekend nights. Generally, the police will just issue a verbal warning to the household making excessive noise, but they can make a residential disturbance a criminal offense after repeated violations. They may also charge a fine, or contact the property owner after more than one offense.
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) also regulates outdoor construction and installation noises. See the DPD’s Noise Abatement Program for further information.