Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A § 43.185A.010

Definitions.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/25/2026
effective 10/7/2026WashingtonAffordable Housing Programs

Operative Text

Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A § 43.185A.010
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Affordable housing" means residential housing for rental occupancy which, as long as the same is occupied by low-income households, requires payment of monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, of no more than thirty percent of the household's income. The department must adopt policies for residential homeownership housing, occupied by low-income households, which specify the percentage of family income that may be spent on monthly housing costs, including utilities other than telephone, to qualify as affordable housing.
(2) "Contracted amount" means the aggregate amount of all state funding for which the department has monitoring and compliance responsibility.
(3) "Department" means the department of commerce.
(4) "Director" means the director of the department of commerce.
(5) "First-time homebuyer" means:
(a) An individual or the individual's spouse who has had no ownership in a principal residence during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase of the property;
(b) A single parent who has only owned a home with a former spouse while married;
(c) An individual who is a displaced homemaker as defined in 24 C.F.R. Sec. 93.2 as it exists on July 23, 2023, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section, and has only owned a home with a spouse;
(d) An individual who has only owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable regulations; or
(e) An individual who has only owned a property that is determined by a licensed building inspector as being uninhabitable.
(6) "Low-income household" means a single person, family or unrelated persons living together whose adjusted income is less than eighty percent of the median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the project is located.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A.010 establishes the foundational definitions that govern Washington State's affordable housing chapter administered by the Department of Commerce. Under this provision, 'affordable housing' for renters means housing where monthly costs—including most utilities but not telephone—do not exceed 30% of a low-income household's income. A 'low-income household' is defined as individuals or families whose adjusted income falls below 80% of the county's median family income, adjusted for household size, and 'first-time homebuyer' is defined broadly to include certain people who have previously held limited or conditional forms of ownership.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers participating in Washington State affordable housing programs funded or monitored by the Department of Commerce should be familiar with the definitions set out in § 43.185A.010, as these terms govern eligibility and compliance requirements throughout the chapter. Operators of rental housing under this framework generally ensure that monthly housing costs charged to low-income households—covering rent and applicable utilities excluding telephone—do not exceed 30% of the household's income. Understanding how 'low-income household' is defined, specifically the 80% area median income threshold adjusted for household size and county, is central to maintaining compliance with state monitoring and contracted-amount obligations.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Wash. Rev. Code § 43.185A.010 sets out definitions that determine who qualifies for protections and programs under Washington's affordable housing chapter, including what counts as 'affordable' rental housing and who is considered a 'low-income household.' Renters whose monthly housing costs—including most utilities—exceed 30% of their income may have grounds to question whether a unit truly qualifies as affordable housing under this framework. Tenants who believe a landlord is misrepresenting a unit's affordable-housing status or their eligibility may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or the Washington Department of Commerce to understand 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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 7, 2026
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Related Rules

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§ 574.605 Applicability of uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards.
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§ 574.625 Conflict of interest.
§ 574.645
§ 574.645 Coastal barriers.

Source Information

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