SMC 7.24.030 Rental agreement requirements.
A. Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement for a residential rental unit in the City of Seattle entered into after the effective date of the ordinance adding this subsection A shall include or shall be deemed to include a provision requiring a minimum of sixty (60) days prior written notice whenever the periodic or monthly housing costs to be charged a tenant is to increase by ten (10) percent or more
over the periodic or monthly rental rate charged the same tenant for the same housing unit and same services for any period or month during the preceding twelve (12) month period.
B. No rental agreement entered into after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter that creates or purports to create a tenancy from month to month or from period to period on which rent is
payable, may:
1. Require occupancy for a minimum term of more than one (1) month or period;

2. Impose penalties, whether designated as “additional rent” or fees, if a tenant terminates the tenancy pursuant to law and vacates before expiration of any minimum term prohibited by subsection A of this section;
3. Require forfeiture of all or any part of a deposit if the tenant terminates the tenancy pursuant to law and vacates before expiration of any minimum term prohibited by subsection A of this section; provided,
that nothing in this chapter shall prevent a landlord from retaining all or a portion of a deposit as compensation for damage to the premises as provided by law and the rental agreement or, as provided by
law, for failure to perform other obligations imposed by the rental agreement.