Bellingham Fee Regulations: FORMS UPDATE!
This update alert includes a high-level summary of changes only. Please refer to the revised forms for full details. Always download the latest version to stay in compliance.
As of August 1, 2025, all new leases and lease renewals in the City of Bellingham will need to conform with new law under Ordinance No. 2025-06-010 adding a new section, BMC 6.16 “Prohibited Fees and Deposits in Residential Rentals.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: Any provision in a rental agreement or renewal entered into after 8/1/2025 in violation of the following is void and unenforceable. Inclusion of a prohibited provision in an agreement or renewal entered into after 8/1/2025 is a violation.
The following RHAWA forms have been created or revised and are available on in Section 2 on the Residential Rentals Forms page.
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A new Bellingham Rent and Fee Summary designed to be attached as a cover sheet to the lease.
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Revisions to the Leasing Requirements by Local Jurisdiction instructions for new Bellingham regulations.
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Added a checkbox for “Other mandatory form(s) (Other addenda required in some jurisdictions.)” on the list of required addenda on page 10 of all four versions of the Rental Agreement and Term Lease forms.
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Fee limitations information was added to the Application Criteria Guidelines, found in Section 1 on the Residential Rentals Forms page.
Resources
- Support Center Article: City of Bellingham Law Summary
RHAWA forms are copyrighted and are for member use only. Unauthorized use, publication or distribution is strictly prohibited. Formal legal advice and review is recommended prior to selection and use of any provided form. RHAWA does not represent your selection or execution of any form as appropriate for your specific circumstances. Rental owners / managers and tenants are each advised to seek independent legal advice on matters arising from use of any form. No representation is made as to the sufficiency or tax consequences from use of any form.