Wash. Admin. Code § 162-36 § 162-36-001
Definitions.
Operative Text
(1) "Brokerage services" means access to or membership or participation in a multiple-listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; (2) "Dwelling" means any building, structure or portion thereof that is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land that is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, or portion thereof; (3) "Families with children status" means one or more individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen years being domiciled with a parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals, or with the designee of such parent or other person having such legal custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person. Families with children status also applies to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of eighteen years; (4) "Real estate transaction" includes the sale, appraisal, brokering, exchange, purchase, rental, or lease of real property; transacting or applying for a real estate loan; the provision of brokerage services; or the making or purchasing of loans secured by residential real estate; (5) "Real property" includes buildings, structures, dwellings, real estate, land, tenements, leaseholds, interests in real estate cooperatives, condominiums, and hereditaments, corporeal and incorporeal, or any interest therein; (6) "Unfair practices on the basis of creed" or "discrimination on the basis of creed" includes, but is not limited to religious discrimination under the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. (7) "'Dog guide' means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog that is trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons." (8) "'Service animal' means an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled person's sensory, mental, or physical disability."
Wash. Admin. Code § 162-36-001 et seq. establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Washington State's fair housing regulations for real estate transactions. It defines key terms such as 'dwelling,' 'real property,' 'families with children status,' 'dog guide,' and 'service animal,' clarifying the scope of who and what is covered under the state's anti-discrimination rules. These definitions shape how protections apply across activities ranging from renting and selling homes to obtaining real estate loans and accessing brokerage services.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Wash. Admin. Code § 162-36-001 et seq. should be familiar with how broadly the regulation defines 'dwelling' and 'real estate transaction,' since these definitions determine which activities and properties fall within Washington's fair housing framework. Compliant operators generally apply consistent standards when dealing with families with children, as that term is defined to include pregnant individuals and those in the process of obtaining legal custody. Operators also typically recognize 'dog guides' and 'service animals' as defined in this section when evaluating accommodation requests from applicants or residents with disabilities.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Admin. Code § 162-36-001 et seq. sets out definitions that underpin Washington's fair housing protections, including what counts as a 'dwelling,' who qualifies under 'families with children status,' and what animals are recognized as 'dog guides' or 'service animals.' Tenants who believe a landlord has misapplied these definitions—for example, by refusing to recognize a service animal or by treating a pregnant applicant differently—may have grounds to raise a fair housing concern. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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