Tacoma Tenant Measure Leads With 59.5% Support

Renters and landlords in Tacoma should track the final count, since landlord registration and licensing would apply if the measure passes.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Apartments

Tacoma Tenant Measure Leads With 59.5% Support

Live Poll

Should cities impose stricter rules and fines on landlords to protect renters?

Tacoma voters favored the Safe Homes for All tenants' rights measure in early returns, with 59.5% support. Pierce County election officials will continue counting ballots in the coming days, so the result is not final.

Why it matters

If the measure holds, renters in Tacoma could see landlords required to register rental properties and pay licensing fees, with fines for violating tenant protections and housing codes. Renter advocates drafted it after saying the city failed to adequately enforce existing tenant rights, which is why it reaches household budgets and rent stability directly.

The measure led with 59.5% of voters in support in early returns, while landlord-led opposition raised more than $850,000 against $255,000 from supporters. Pierce County officials will continue counting ballots in the coming days before a final result is certified.

The players

Tacoma for All

A citizen group that drafted the Safe Homes for All measure to strengthen tenant protections in Tacoma.

Democratic Socialists of America (Tacoma chapter)

A progressive organization whose local chapter backed the tenant protection proposal.

Pierce County

The county whose election officials are counting the remaining ballots on the measure.

The details

Tacoma for All drafted the measure, known as Safe Homes for All, as a citizen initiative. It would impose fines on landlords who violate tenant protections and housing codes, require landlords to register rental properties and pay licensing fees, publish a database of landlords and rent increases, and mandate that landlords negotiate with tenant unions. Labor unions, progressive groups, and the Tacoma chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America backed the proposal.

2023: Tacoma voters passed other tenant protections.
Tuesday (2026-11-03): Early returns showed the measure leading.
In the coming days: Pierce County continues counting ballots.

The Home Front

The measure would extend the tenant protections Tacoma voters approved in 2023 by adding landlord registration, licensing fees, and a public database of rent increases. If passed, it would make Tacoma the first city in Washington to enact some of these changes, including the requirement for union negotiations.

If you rent in Tacoma, check your lease for current landlord obligations and keep records of repairs and rent changes so you can use existing protections. Renters and owners should track the final certified count, since the measure's fines, licensing, and registration rules would only apply if it passes.

The takeaway

Tenant rules in Tacoma could change depending on the final count, so renters and landlords should watch the certified result. Keep copies of your lease and any notices from your landlord on file.