Seattle homeowners who are tired of constant “we’d love to buy your house” pitches are a step closer to some relief. On Wednesday, the City Council’s Housing, Arts and Civil Rights Committee advanced a proposal that would let residents put their addresses on a city-run "Do Not Solicit" list and give the city new ways to crack down on high‑pressure, off‑market outreach.
Councilmember Foster leads committee approval of bill protecting homeowner privacy and generational wealth https://x.com/i/status/2080072897864040959
— Seattle City Council (@SeattleCouncil) July 22, 2026
What's in the bill
Council Bill 121259 would add a new section to the Seattle Municipal Code establishing a public Do Not Solicit List and defining “solicit” broadly to cover in‑person visits, phone calls, mailings and electronic communications. According to Seattle Legistar, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights would maintain the list, homeowners could request removal within 30 days, and the ordinance lays out a citation process and civil remedies for repeat violations.
Supporters and testimony
Councilmember Dionne Foster, who introduced the bill, said it “will help families build generational wealth by disrupting excessive solicitation and ensuring homeowners can live in peace in their homes,” according to the city news release.
The same release quoted Beacon Hill community leader Maria Batayola saying “unsolicited offers and aggressive off‑market tactics are predatory and create fear and stress for vulnerable neighbors,” while a Black Legacy Homeowners leader said the measure gives residents “a clear way to say their homes are not for sale.”
In a press release via Seattle City Council, officials also noted that local organizers testified at the committee hearing in support of the proposal.
Community context
Advocates say the ordinance responds to long‑running pressure on older homeowners in rapidly changing neighborhoods, particularly Black owners who report being singled out for repeated pitches. Community reporting and organizers such as the Black Legacy Homeowners Network have described door‑to‑door offers and scare tactics about taxes or development that can push distressed owners to sell, and that reporting helps frame the testimony lawmakers heard.
As reported by South Seattle Emerald, those groups have been pressing the city to adopt anti‑displacement measures that protect generational homeownership.
What's next
The committee vote sends the ordinance to the full City Council, which the city says will consider final passage on July 28, 2026. The council’s release notes that recent outreach collected about 74 resident responses and that similar policies have been adopted elsewhere, pointing to New York and Philadelphia as precedents.
In a press release via Seattle City Council, officials said the Seattle Office for Civil Rights would be responsible for implementing the program if the council signs it into law.
Legal implications
If enacted, the ordinance would create a new unfair‑practice prohibition, authorize the city to issue citations and give affected homeowners a private cause of action. The council filing estimates implementation costs and staffing at roughly $200,000 in 2027 and $370,000 in 2028, and prescribes penalties of $1,000 for a first violation and $2,000 for each subsequent violation within 12 months.
Enforcement and implementation would fall to the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, with additional details in the summary filed on Seattle Legistar.
