Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60 § 49.60.230
Complaint may be filed with commission.
Operative Text
(1) Who may file a complaint: (a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged unfair practice may, personally or by his or her attorney, make, sign, and file with the commission a complaint in writing under oath or by declaration. The complaint shall state the name of the person alleged to have committed the unfair practice and the particulars thereof, and contain such other information as may be required by the commission. (b) Whenever it has reason to believe that any person has been engaged or is engaging in an unfair practice, the commission may issue a complaint. (c) Any employer or principal whose employees, or agents, or any of them, refuse or threaten to refuse to comply with the provisions of this chapter may file with the commission a written complaint under oath or by declaration asking for assistance by conciliation or other remedial action. (2) Any complaint filed pursuant to this section must be filed within six months after the alleged act of discrimination, except that complaints alleging an unfair practice related to: (a) A real estate transaction pursuant to RCW 49.60.222 through 49.60.225 must be filed within one year after the alleged unfair practice in a real estate transaction has occurred or terminated; (b) Pregnancy discrimination pursuant to RCW 49.60.180 must be filed within one year after the alleged unfair practice; and (c) A complaint alleging whistleblower retaliation must be filed within two years.
Washington's Law Against Discrimination, at Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.230, establishes a formal complaint process through the Washington State Human Rights Commission for people who believe they have experienced an unfair practice, such as housing discrimination. Complaints must generally be filed within six months of the alleged act, though longer windows apply for real estate transaction claims (one year), pregnancy discrimination claims (one year), and whistleblower retaliation claims (two years). The Commission itself may also initiate a complaint when it has reason to believe an unfair practice is occurring, and employers or principals may file seeking conciliation when their agents refuse to comply with the law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.230, property owners and managers should be aware that both tenants and the Washington State Human Rights Commission can initiate a formal complaint alleging discriminatory housing practices. Operators who maintain clear, consistently applied policies and document their decisions create a record that can be useful if a complaint is filed. Employers and principals whose agents or employees refuse to comply with the chapter's requirements also have the option to proactively seek the Commission's assistance through conciliation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 49.60.230 gives individuals who believe they have experienced housing discrimination the right to file a written complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission, either personally or through an attorney. The standard filing deadline is six months from the alleged discriminatory act, but tenants with claims involving real estate transactions or pregnancy discrimination have up to one year, and whistleblower retaliation claims may be filed within two years. Tenants exploring this process may find it helpful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or fair housing agency to understand the complaint procedures and applicable deadlines.
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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