City Council Planning Committee

**Rental Regulation Impact Assessment** The committee reviewed survey results showing varied impacts across different types of landlords. Staff analyst Iris presented findings that "mom and pop" landlords (single-unit owners) reported fewer policy changes and less difficulty with compliance compared to professional property managers. For example, only 6% of mom and pop landlords changed pet policies compared to 11% of all landlords surveyed. Council Member Lilliquist emphasized that these findings addressed a key policy concern from the original ordinance debate—whether regulations would disproportionately burden small, amateur landlords. The data suggested these fears were largely unfounded, with mom and pop operators showing better adaptation rates than professional managers. However, the survey revealed complexity concerns through open-ended comments, with small landlords expressing "fear that they're out of compliance because there's so many frequent changes" and finding "the complexity of the changes is chall…

**Council Member Hollie Huffman (Planning Committee Chair):** Supported both tenant surveying and follow-up landlord assessment. Expressed interest in comprehensive data collection to inform future policy decisions. **Council Member Lisa Anderson:** Advocated strongly for tenant perspective inclusion, stating both landlord and tenant voices are essential for measuring policy success. Supported separate analysis of manufactured home communities while recognizing implementation challenges. **Council Member Michael Lilliquist:** Praised the research methodology and expressed satisfaction that regulations did not disproportionate…

**Council Member Lilliquist, on regulation impact concerns:** "Did we regulate in a way for an industry which unfortunately caught up people who were sort of amateurs in this and it looks like we didn't." **Council Member Anderson, on data collection needs:** "I think it's really important that we have both voices at the table when it comes to the data collection if we're going to be able to make future decisions." **Council Member Lilliquist, on mom and pop findings:** "What's fascinating i…

The committee formalized a two-pronged approach to rental regulation assessment, expanding beyond the original landlord-only feedback model to include tenant perspectives. This represents a significant shift toward comprehensive impact evaluation rather than single-stakeholder analysis. Staff received clear direction to develop tenant survey methodologies, moving from theoretical discussion to active research …

### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Planning Committee met on April 13, 2026, to discuss results from a 2025 survey of landlords and property managers about new rental regulations. The committee reviewed data showing how local rental operators responded to ordinances passed in 2025 regarding unfair fees and rental registration requirements. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Mom and Pop Landlords:** Small-scale rental property owners who own just one unit and either manage it themselves or have a friend/relative help manage it, typically as a retirement investment rather than a business. **Rental Registration Program:** A city requirement for landlords to register their rental properties and undergo safety inspections as part of Bellingham's rental regulations. **Work Session:** An informal committee meeting format where council members discuss topics in detail without taking formal votes, designed for information gathering and discussion. **Legislative Policy Analyst:** A city staff position that researches policy issues and provides data analysis to help council members make informed decisions. **Manufactured Home Communities:** Residential parks where people own mobile homes but rent the land/space underneath, creating unique landlord-tenant dynamics different from traditional rentals. **Rental Advisory Group:** A planned working group that will bring together various stakeholders to advise the city on rental housing policies and regulations. **Planning Committee:** One of several City Council committees that focuses on land use, development, and housing-related issues before they go to the full Council. **Agenda Bill:** The formal numbering system the city uses to track legislation and agenda items (this meeting discussed Agenda Bill 24889). ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Hollie Huthman | Council Member, Planning Committee Chair | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member, Planning Committee | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member, Planning Committee | | Iris Knott | Legislative Policy Analyst, City Staff | | Blake Lyon | Director of Planning and Community Development | | Jace Cotton | Council Member (participating from audience) | ### Background Context In 2025, Bellingham passed ne…