City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 10
Chapter 10.57
Section 10.57.180
 

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Division II. License Code

Chapter 10.57 Regulation of Residential Rental Housing

Section 10.57.180 Prohibition on Algorithmic Rental Price Fixing

 

  1. Exceptions. This section does not apply to coordinating functions provided with either short-term rentals as defined in SMC 17C.316.020 or hotels as defined in SMC 17C.348.020.
  1. Violation. It is a violation of this section for:
    1. Any landlord, in or affecting commerce, to contract with or otherwise exchange anything of value in return for the coordinating services of an algorithm service provider, as defined in Section 10.57.005 SMC.
    1. Any algorithm service provider, in or affecting commerce, to provide coordinating services to two or more landlords.
    1. It is not a violation of this section for a landlord to use a system or software recordkeeping tool absent conduct otherwise prohibited under this section.
  1. Penalty. The City may file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction for violations of Section 10.57.180 for civil penalties of up to five thousand dollars per violation. Each instance of coordinating services for each dwelling unit shall be considered a separate violation. The court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to the City if the City is the prevailing party.
  1. Revocation of Business License. Pursuant to Section 08.01.321(A)(7), the City of Spokane may cancel or revoke the business license of a landlord, landlord’s agent, or algorithm service provider successfully found in violation of this section and shall not be eligible to obtain a City of Spokane business license for five years thereafter.
  1. Submission of Violations. Tenants, landlords, and the employees or contractors of landlords are encouraged to submit violations of this section to the City Attorney and the Residential Rental Housing Navigator.

 

Date Passed: Monday, December 1, 2025

Effective Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026

ORD C36778 Section 6