How Tacoma's New "Landlord Fairness Code" is Playing Out in the Courts

First published on Landlord360 on December 21, 2023

by attorney David Britton

The new City of Tacoma “Landlord Fairness Initiative” (Chapter 1.100 TMC) became effective December 8, 2023, and the first eviction cases subject to the new Ordinance began cycling through the Superior Court last week.   I had briefed the court in advance on what I thought the effect of the new law was (or should be), and the court, so far, appears to have accepted most of my arguments (see below).  Keep in mind that the following information could well change in another month or so when a new court commissioner rotates in, but then again, it is my impression from being in these hearings almost daily, that the commissioners do talk to one another, so I don’t expect any radical changes.