9.20.020 Definitions.
Definitions as used in this chapter, unless additional meaning clearly appears from the context, shall have the meanings subscribed:
A. “Commission” means the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
B. “Disability” means:
1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities, either temporarily or permanently;
2. A person has a record of having such an impairment;
3. A person is regarded as having such an impairment; or
4. A person has any other condition that is a disability under the Washington State Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW, as it pertains to real estate and housing.
“Disability” does not include current illegal use of a controlled substance as defined in Section 102 or 21 USC Section 802 now or as hereafter amended.
C. “Dwelling” includes any building containing one or more dwelling units.
D. “Dwelling unit” includes a suite of rooms for occupancy by one family containing space for living, sleeping and preparation of food, and containing toilet and bathing facilities.
E. “Familial status” means one or more individuals (who have not attained the age of 18 years) being domiciled with:
1. A parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or
2. The designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person.
The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply 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 18 years.
F. “Housing accommodations” includes any dwelling, or dwelling unit, rooming unit, roominghouse, lot or parcel of land in the city which is used, intended to be used or arranged or designed to be used as, or improved with, a residential structure for one or more human beings.
G. “Lender” includes any bank, insurance company, savings or building and loan association, credit union, trust company, mortgage company or other person engaged wholly or partly in the business of lending money for the financing or acquisition, construction, repair or maintenance of a housing accommodation.
H. “Owners” include persons who own, lease, sublease, rent, operate, manage, have charge of, control or have the right of ownership, possession, management, charge or control of the housing accommodation, on their own behalf or on behalf of another.
I. “Occupant” includes any person who has established residence or has the right to occupancy in a housing accommodation.
J. “Person” includes one or more individuals, partnerships, organizations, trade or professional associations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy and receivers; it includes any owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, agent or employee, whether one or more natural persons, and further includes any political subdivision or agency or instrumentality of or in the city.
K. “Person aggrieved” means any person against whom any alleged unfair housing practice has been committed.
L. “Prospective borrower” includes any person who seeks to borrow money to finance the acquisition, construction, repair or maintenance of a housing accommodation.
M. “Prospective occupant” includes any person who seeks to purchase, lease, sublease or rent a housing accommodation.
N. “Real estate broker” includes any person who, for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, lists for sale, sells, purchases, exchanges, leases or subleases, rents, or negotiates or offers or attempts to negotiate the sale, purchase, exchange, lease, sublease or rental of a housing accommodation of another, or holds himself out as engaged in the business of selling, purchasing, exchanging, listing, leasing, subleasing or renting a housing accommodation of another, or collects the rental for the use of a housing accommodation of another.
O. “Real estate agent, salesman or employee” includes any person employed by or associated with a real estate broker to perform or assist in the performance of any or all of the functions of a real estate broker.
P. “Respondent” means any person who is alleged to have committed an unfair housing practice.
Q. “Rooming unit” includes one or more rooms within a dwelling unit or roominghouse containing space for living and sleeping.
R. “Section 8 status” means the act of possessing a Section 8 voucher or certificate issued under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and the intent of a rental applicant to rent a dwelling unit pursuant to such voucher or certificate, subject to the provisions of BCC 9.20.045.
S. “Unfair housing practice” means any act prohibited by this chapter. (Ord. 6195 § 2, 2014; Ord. 4148 § 2, 1990; Ord. 4061 § 2, 1989; Ord. 3550 § 5, 1985; Ord. 3516 § 28, 1985; Ord. 2398 § 3, 1977; 1961 code § 7.60.020.)