Wash. Admin. Code § 162-38 § 162-38-080
Modifications or additions made by tenants.
Operative Text
(1) Landlord need not pay. Except as required by law, a landlord is not required to pay for alterations or additions to real property needed to make it accessible by disabled persons. (2) Unfair to unreasonably prohibit modifications needed by disabled tenant. Whether or not the landlord permits tenants in general to make alterations or additions to a structure, it is an unfair practice under RCW 49.60.222 for a landlord to refuse to allow a disabled tenant to make reasonable alterations or additions to the structure or fixtures under the following conditions: (a) The alterations or additions are paid for by the tenant; and (b) The tenant agrees to restore the interior of the dwelling to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted; or (c) As otherwise required by RCW 49.60.222 (2). (3) Examples of appropriate modifications. The following are examples of alterations or additions commonly needed to make real property accessible to disabled persons: (a) Ramps for wheelchairs or walkers. (b) Lights to indicate to a deaf person that the doorbell or telephone is ringing, or for similar purposes. (c) Grab bars in bathrooms. (d) Roll-out shelves in kitchens. (e) Simplified locking systems for use by a person with mental disabilities.
Under Wash. Admin. Code § 162-38-080, landlords are generally not obligated to pay for accessibility modifications that disabled tenants need, but they are prohibited from unreasonably refusing to allow those modifications to be made. This rule classifies such a refusal as an unfair practice under Washington's Law Against Discrimination. The tenant is typically responsible for covering the cost of the modifications and, in most cases, for restoring the interior of the dwelling to its prior condition when they leave, with allowances for normal wear and tear.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Wash. Admin. Code § 162-38-080 generally do not bear the cost of accessibility modifications requested by disabled tenants, but they are expected to permit reasonable modifications when the tenant agrees to pay for them and to restore the interior upon vacating. Common examples listed in the rule include grab bars, wheelchair ramps, doorbell alert lights, and simplified locking systems. Refusing a reasonable modification request from a disabled tenant—regardless of a property's general policy on alterations—can constitute an unfair practice under RCW 49.60.222.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Admin. Code § 162-38-080 establishes that a disabled tenant has the right to make reasonable accessibility modifications to their dwelling, even if the landlord has a general policy against alterations, as long as the tenant pays for the work and typically agrees to restore the interior when moving out. Examples of covered modifications include wheelchair ramps, grab bars, and visual doorbell alerts. Tenants who believe a landlord has unreasonably denied such a request may have grounds to raise a violation under RCW 49.60.222, and options for pursuing that claim can be explored through the Washington State Human Rights Commission or a tenant-rights organization.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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