City of Olympia - File #: 23-0712

• File #: 23-0712
• Version: 2
• Type: ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 8/11/2023
• In control: City Council
• Agenda date: 9/12/2023
• Final action: 9/12/2023
• Title: Approval of an Ordinance Amending OMC 5.82.050(D) Related to Tenant Protection Measures and Pet Damage Deposits

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
9/12/2023	2	City Council	adopted on second reading	Pass
8/22/2023	1	City Council	approved on first reading and moved to second reading	Pass
8/22/2023	2	City Council	approved on first reading and moved to second reading

Title
Approval of an Ordinance Amending OMC 5.82.050(D) Related to Tenant Protection Measures and Pet Damage Deposits

Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.

City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve an Ordinance Amending OMC 5.82.050(D) related to tenant protection measures and pet damage deposits.

Report
Issue:
Whether approve an Ordinance Amending OMC 5.82.050(D) related to tenant protection measures and pet damage deposits.

Staff Contact:
Christa Lenssen, Senior Housing Program Specialist, City Manager's Office

Presenter(s):
Christa Lenssen, Senior Housing Program Specialist, City Manager's Office, 360.570.3762

Background and Analysis:
Background and analysis did not change from first to second reading.

On August 16, 2022, via Ordinance No. 7332, the City Council of the City of Olympia enacted tenant protection measures, including provisions related to pet damage deposits. One provision of those newly enacted tenant protection measures, OMC 5.82.050(D), requires that a landlord, within 21 days of the end of the tenancy, return to the tenant any portion of a pet damage deposit not applied to the costs of remediating damage caused by a pet for which the tenant is responsible, or to provide to the tenant an itemized list of damages, if a portion or the entirety of the deposit is retained for damage caused by a pet for which the tenant is responsible.

When this provision was enacted, the 21-day timeframe for the landlord to return a pet deposit, or provide an itemized list of damages, was consistent with the timeframe provided in state law, specifically RCW 59.18.280(1)(a), for return of a damage deposit, or provision of an itemized damage list, to a tenant. However, in the 2023 Legislative session, RCW 59.18.280(1)(a) was amended to change this timeframe from 21 days to 30 days. For the convenience of landlords and tenants, and ease of administration, the City wishes for the timeframe in OMC 5.82.050(D) to be con...