Shoreline Security Deposit Rules: What the Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance Adds to Washington Law

A landlord in Shoreline has to satisfy two sets of rules at once: the Washington statute, Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280, and the city's own Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance (SMC ch. 9.35). The state law sets the 30-day return deadline after termination of the tenancy and the tenant vacating; the local ordinance adds rules on deposit cap, paying the deposit in installments and rent-increase notice. Where the two overlap, the landlord has to meet the stricter one.

What the Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance adds

• Deposit cap: Combined move-in fees and security deposits may not exceed one month's rent. (SMC 9.35 (section number not verified))
• Paying the deposit in installments: Tenants have the right to pay move-in fees and deposits in installments, with the number of installments depending on lease length (six for leases of six months or more per the code snippet). (SMC 9.35 (section number not verified))
• Rent-increase notice: Base rent increases above three percent but below 10 percent require 120 days' notice, and increases of 10 percent or more require at least 180 days' notice. (SMC 9.35 (section number not verified))

Who it covers: Residential tenancies in Shoreline beyond RCW 59.18; the official page states exceptions for subsidized housing where rent is income-based.
Worth knowing: The rules above come from the city's official tenant-protections page describing Ordinance No. 996 (adopted December 11, 2023); the code section numbers were not verified for this article. Late fees are capped at 1.5 percent of monthly rent.

What Washington law already requires

• Return deadline: 30 days after termination of the tenancy and the tenant vacating.
• Detail: Changed from 21 to 30 days in 2023 (HB 1074). Deductions must be documented with invoices or estimates, and no wear-and-tear deductions are allowed without a signed move-in checklist.
• Itemized deductions: required in writing.
• Forwarding address: not a statutory condition of getting the deposit back.
• Penalty for wrongful withholding: Intentional refusal to return or itemize exposes the landlord to up to twice the deposit plus attorney's fees; missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold.
• Small claims limit: $10,000.
• Statute: Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280.

Using both rules together

1. Read the lease for the deposit amount, the move-in date, and any clause that mentions the ordinance.
2. Check the local rule first: deposit cap under SMC ch. 9.35, then paying the deposit in installments and rent-increase notice.
3. Count the Washington deadline of 30 days from termination of the tenancy and the tenant vacating.
4. A written demand that cites both Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 and SMC ch. 9.35 carries more weight than one that cites either alone. Intentional refusal to return or itemize exposes the landlord to up to twice the deposit plus attorney's fees; missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Shoreline require interest on security deposits?
A: The Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance does not add an interest rule, so Washington law governs. Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 does not require interest on deposits.

Q: Is the Shoreline deposit return deadline different from Washington law?
A: No. The Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance does not change the return deadline, so the Washington rule applies: 30 days after termination of the tenancy and the tenant vacating under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280.

Q: Does the Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance apply to my unit?
A: Residential tenancies in Shoreline beyond RCW 59.18; the official page states exceptions for subsidized housing where rent is income-based. Check the section cited below for the full list of exemptions before relying on it.

Q: Can I sue my landlord in small claims court for my Washington deposit?
A: Yes. Washington small claims court hears claims up to $10,000, which covers most deposits plus the statutory penalty. A dated written demand that cites Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 is the usual first exhibit.

Sources Checked

• SMC 9.35, Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance: official page, read 2026-09-20
• Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 (the Washington statute cited above)
• LeaseLenses Washington deposit data set, last reviewed 2026-09-19; the same data powers the Washington demand letter tool
• Washington landlord-tenant overview and the Washington deposit rules page

This page is general legal information for Shoreline, Washington, not legal advice. Local ordinances are amended more often than state statutes; read the current code text before relying on a figure in court.