SB 6200 — Concerning renters' and mobile home occupants' ability to install portable cooling devices.

ENGROSSEDS-3832.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6200 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Housing (originally sponsored by Senators Slatter, Alvarado, Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Liias, Nobles, Riccelli, Trudeau, Valdez, and C.

Wilson)Wilson READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/04/26.01/16/26.

Referred to Committee on Housing.

(2) A landlord may not require a fee for the use,use inspection, or installation of a portable cooling device.

Nothing(3) inA thislandlord sectionmay shallprohibit precludeor restrict a landlordtenant from charginginstalling fora theportable rentalcooling device of aany portabletype coolingif devicethe renteddwelling byalready has a tenantpermanently frominstalled theand landlord,fully noroperational forheat anypump damagesthat arisingis outcapable of acooling tenant'sthe usedwelling, ofor aif portableinstallation coolingof device.the device would:

(3) A landlord may prohibit or restrict a tenant from installing a portable cooling device of any type if the dwelling already has a permanently installed and fully operational heat pump, or if installation of the device would:

p.(b) Violate the device manufacturer's written safety guidelines for the device;

1 ESSB 6200 (b) Violate the device manufacturer's written safety guidelines for the device;

or (d)p. Require an electrical supply to power the device that cannot be accommodated by the existing power service to the building, dwelling unit, or circuit.

(4)(a)1 ASB landlord6200 may(d) prohibitRequire oran restrictelectrical asupply tenantto frompower installingthe adevice window-mountedthat portablecannot coolingbe deviceaccommodated if:by the power service to the building, dwelling unit, or circuit.

(i)(4)(a) TheA windowlandlord ismay aprohibit necessaryor egressrestrict froma thetenant dwellingfrom unitinstalling anda theportable cooling device wouldin interferea withwindow itsif: use as egress;

(i) The window is a necessary egress from the dwelling unit;

(iii) The device requires the excessive use of brackets or other hardware that would damage or void the warranty of the window or frame, puncture the exterior wall of the building, or otherwise cause significant damage;damages;

or (iv) The device cannot be secured in a way that prevents it from falling out of the window;window.

or (v) The landlord's insurance policy for the dwelling occupied by the tenant expressly restricts or prohibits the use of window-mounted portable cooling devices, this restriction or prohibition has been communicated to the tenant as described in subsection (8) of this section, and the landlord has provided written evidence of insurance policy restrictions or prohibitions to the tenant.

(5) ToIn verifyaddition complianceto with the installation limitations allowed under this section, a landlord may also require that a window-mounted portable cooling device be subject to oneinspection or moreservicing ofby the following:landlord or landlord's agent.

(a)Prior Inspectionto afterany installation;inspection or servicing of the portable cooling unit, the landlord must provide at least a 48-hour notice unless emergency inspection or servicing is required.

or(6) (b)A Servicinglandlord aftermay installation.not enforce a restriction on portable cooling devices against a tenant under this section unless the restrictions are in writing and delivered to the tenant.

(6) A tenant must provide at least two days' notice to a landlord prior to the installation of a window-mounted portable cooling device.

(8) A landlord must notify tenants in their lease of their rights, responsibilities, and restrictions related to installation and operation of a portable cooling device.

(9) Nothing under this section shall be construed to limit the responsibilities of landlords to provide reasonable accommodations under existing state and federal law.

(10) A landlord is not responsible for any interruption in electrical service resulting from the installation of a portable cooling device that is not caused by the landlord, including interruptions caused by an electrical supply's inability to accommodate use of a portable cooling device.

2 ESSBSB 6200 (8)(11) ANothing landlordin mustthis notifysection tenantsshall inpreclude theira leaselandlord offrom theirretaining rights,a responsibilities,portion andof restrictionsa relatedsecurity todeposit installationfor anda operationlawful ofpurpose aunder portableRCW cooling59.18.280. device.

(9)(12) AFor landlordthe mustpurposes stateof this section, "portable cooling device" means an air conditioner, portable heat pump, or evaporative cooler, including a device mounted in a leasewindow whetheror designed to sit on the landlord'sfloor, insurancebut policydoes restrictsnot include devices whose installation or prohibitsuse requires excessive alteration to the tenant'sdwelling unit including, but not limited to, the excessive use of abrackets window-or mountedother coolinghardware device.under subsection (4)(a)(iii) of this section.

A landlord must notify a tenant if and when the landlord's insurance policy changes to allow, prohibit, or restrict the tenant's use of a window-mounted cooling device.

(10) Nothing under this section shall be construed to limit the responsibilities of landlords to provide reasonable accommodations under existing state and federal law.

(11) A landlord is not responsible for any interruption in electrical service resulting from the installation of a portable cooling device that is not caused by the landlord, including interruptions caused by an electrical supply's inability to accommodate use of a portable cooling device.

(12) Nothing in this section shall preclude a landlord from retaining a portion of a security deposit for a lawful purpose under RCW 59.18.280.

(13) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Portable cooling device" means an air conditioner, portable heat pump, or evaporative cooler, including a device mounted in a window or designed to sit on the floor, but does not include devices whose installation or use require excessive alteration to the dwelling unit including, but not limited to, the excessive use of brackets or other hardware under subsection (4)(a)(iii) of this section.

(b) "Saddle-mounted portable cooling device" means a portable cooling device that hangs over the windowsill with interior and exterior components rather than sitting on top of it, such that the window view is not fully obstructed and the device will not fall when the window is opened, and includes u-shaped portable cooling devices.

(c) "Window-mounted portable cooling device" means a portable cooling device that is installed to sit in the window but does not include a saddle-mounted portable cooling device, a u-shaped portable cooling device, or a floor-mounted device that is connected to a window for air exchange or ventilation.

p.A landlord shall not:

3 ESSB 6200 A landlord shall not:

Door-to-door solicitation does not include public officials, housing and low-income assistance organizations, or candidates for public office meeting or distributingp. information to tenants in accordance with subsection (3) or (4) of this section;

3 SB 6200 distributing information to tenants in accordance with subsection (3) or (4) of this section;

(4) Prohibit a public official, housing and low-income assistance organization, or candidate for public office from meeting with or p.distributing information to tenants in their individual mobile homes, manufactured homes, or park models, nor penalize any tenant for participating in these meetings or receiving this information;

4 ESSB 6200 distributing information to tenants in their individual mobile homes, manufactured homes, or park models, nor penalize any tenant for participating in these meetings or receiving this information;

(7)(a) Effect an involuntary termination of electric utility or water service due to lack of payment to any tenant on any day for which the national weather service has issued or has announced that it intends to issue a heat-related alert, such as an excessive heat warning,p. a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the tenant's address is located.

4 SB 6200 warning, a heat advisory, an excessive heat watch, or a similar alert, for the area in which the tenant's address is located.