TPCAR Endorsement Recommendations for 2025 Elections
2025 is a local election year, meaning city council and mayoral races are a large focus for TPCAR’s advocacy team. This year’s primary is being held on Tuesday, August 5th, and there are several key races which are likely to be competitive, and which will have a significant impact on housing in our region. Candidates…
TPCAR Endorses John Hines for Tacoma Mayor
The Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse John Hines for Mayor of Tacoma. Councilmember Hines has demonstrated a consistent and thoughtful commitment to expanding housing opportunities across Tacoma. From his early support and leadership on the Home in Tacoma initiative, to his strong advocacy for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), John has championed policies that…
Washington Enacts Statewide Rent Control: What HB 1217 Means for Tenants, Landlords, and the Housing Market
On May 7, 2025, Washington became the third U.S. state to enact statewide rent control – joining California and Oregon – with the passage of House Bill 1217. The law caps annual rent increases on most residential properties and includes special provisions for manufactured housing, among other regulations. Proponents argue the measure offers needed tenant protections amid…
New Property Tax Incentive for Affordable ADUs Now in Effect in Pierce County
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® members now have a new housing incentive to watch—Senate Bill 5529, recently signed into law, officially expands a key property tax exemption for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to include Pierce County. This law encourages homeowners to build and rent detached ADUs to low-income households by offering a property tax exemption on the value…
Proposed Property Tax Changes Could Deepen Housing Affordability Crisis in Tacoma and Across Washington
As Washington state lawmakers weigh new revenue sources to balance the state budget, proposed changes to the state’s property tax cap are raising alarms among housing advocates—including the Washington REALTORS®, who recently commissioned an analysis to better understand the potential impacts on homeowners. The proposals under consideration would remove the long-standing 1% cap on annual…
Rent Control Advances in Washington: What HB 1217 Could Mean for Housing Providers
On Thursday, April 10th, the State Senate passed an amended version of HB 1217 which would implement rent control in Washington State. Due to changes made from the House version which was approved in March, the bill must move back to the House of Representatives for a vote of concurrence to be enacted into law.…
Washington Rent Control Bill Moves to Senate with Key Amendments
One of the most hotly debated issues this legislative session has involved ESHB 1217 which would enact rent control regulations across Washington State. This bill passed out of the House of Representatives on Monday, March 10th by a vote of 53 – 42. While the bill did move out of the House, several amendments were made…
2025 Legislative Days Event Recap
On January 29 – 30th, nearly 50 TPCAR members joined with 600 REALTOR® members from across the State to gather at the Capitol in Olympia and lobby REALTOR® and housing consumer issues with legislators from every district in the state. The event offered attendees an opportunity to hear from the Washington REALTORS® (WR) lobby team…
TPCAR Advocacy Report – January 2025
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® advocacy team has hit the ground running in 2025 as several carry-over items from 2024 will continue to be worked on this year. Those include: Pierce County TPCAR has been tracking proposed short term rental regulations (STR), as well as accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations, for unincorporated areas of Pierce…
Tacoma City Council Enacts Home in Tacoma Phase 2 – Effective February 1, 2025
Tacoma is moving forward with its Home in Tacoma Phase 2 ordinance, a major update to zoning and building regulations aimed at increasing housing density and creating more opportunities for homeownership. As a REALTOR®, understanding these changes is essential to helping your clients navigate the evolving real estate landscape. Key Zoning Changes The new ordinance…
Tacoma Voters Approve Measure 1, Expanding Rental Housing Regulations and Tenant Protections
Tacoma Voters Approve Measure 1, Expanding Rental Housing Regulations and Tenant Protections November 4, 2026 Tacoma voters have approved Initiative Measure 1, known as Safe Homes for All, according to preliminary election results from November 3. The measure introduces significant new requirements for rental housing providers, including rental licensing fees, tenant union recognition, expanded enforcement…
Read MoreTPCAR Urges Tacoma Voters to Reject Measure 1
The Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® (TPCAR) urges Tacoma voters to vote NO on Initiative Measure 1 in the November 3 election. While promoted as a measure to improve rental housing safety, the proposal would impose costly new regulations, expand government bureaucracy, and threaten the availability of affordable rental housing in Tacoma. Tacoma already has…
Read MorePierce Transit Proposition 1 – TPCAR suggests a vote of YES
TPCAR supports a YES vote on Pierce Transit Proposition 1 because a growing Pierce County will require continued investment in the infrastructure that connects people to jobs, housing, services, and economic opportunity. Proposition 1 would provide additional funding to expand transit service, including greater frequency, longer operating hours, additional routes, and improved regional connections. These…
Read MoreTacoma’s Proposed 2027–2028 Budget: What Real Estate Brokers and Agents Need to Know
The City of Tacoma is currently faced with a $40 million budget deficit. To help close this gap, officials are now proposing a restructure of the city’s business licensing fee system, aiming to generate an extra $6.2 million in revenue. Because of the unique ways the city calculates gross income for licensing, these changes directly…
Read MoreTacoma Is Considering New Tree Regulations: What REALTORS® Should Know
The City of Tacoma is working on a major update to its tree and landscape regulations and the final rules could affect homeowners, buyers, developers, and properties throughout the city. No final ordinance has been adopted and the City is still developing draft regulations and taking public input with its next public hearing scheduled for…
Read MoreTPCAR Announces Endorsements for the 2026 Primary Election
Ballots for Washington’s 2026 Primary Election will be mailed beginning July 17 and must be returned by Tuesday, August 4. As REALTORS®, we have an important opportunity to support candidates and policies that understand the connection between housing, economic opportunity, and strong communities. The Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® is pleased to announce its endorsements…
Read MoreA Major REALTOR® Advocacy Win: How the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Could Expand Homeownership Opportunity
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act took effect Saturday, July 11th, advancing one of the most significant bipartisan federal housing packages in nearly two decades. For REALTORS®, this legislation matters because it addresses the problem at the center of today’s affordability crisis: there are not enough homes available for the people who want to buy them. The…
Read MoreRent Cap Reminder for 2027
The maximum annual rent increase percentage is calculated using the June 12-month percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, all items, for the Seattle area as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is expected to be released in mid-July. Landlords issuing rent increase notices on or after June 1,…
Read MoreSound Transit Reaffirms Commitment to Tacoma Dome Link Extension
Sound Transit recently approved an updated delivery plan for its ST3 expansion program, providing greater clarity on the future of light rail service in Pierce County. While the agency is faced with significant funding challenges across the regional system, the Tacoma Dome 2035 Link Extension remains a committed project and continues to move forward as…
Read More2026 Election Season Underway: Candidate Filing, Local Races, and TPCAR’s Advocacy Process
Election season is officially underway in Washington State, with candidate filing week running from May 4 – May 8, 2026. Candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8 in order to appear on the ballot for this year’s Primary and General Elections. This year’s election cycle includes several important races throughout Pierce County and across Washington…
Read More