SB 6091 Information

Washington State SB 6091 becomes effective June 11, 2026. This FAQ is intended to help members understand how the new law may affect residential real estate marketing practices, Spokane REALTORS® MLS compliance, and related statewide forms.

Important: Spokane REALTORS® cannot provide legal advice. Members should consult their designated broker or legal counsel regarding specific transactions or marketing practices.

General SB 6091 Questions

Common questions about the new law and how it affects residential real estate marketing.

What is SB 6091?

SB 6091 is a new Washington law that amends Chapter 18.86 RCW and establishes requirements for how residential real estate is marketed.

A broker may not market the sale or lease of residential real estate to a limited or exclusive group of prospective buyers or brokers, or any combination thereof, unless the property is concurrently marketed to the general public and all other brokers, except as reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant.

The law becomes effective on June 11, 2026.

Why was SB 6091 passed?

The intent of the law is to promote broad and equal access to residential real estate listings and reduce private or exclusive marketing practices that limit exposure to a select group of buyers or brokers.

What does “concurrently marketed” mean?

If a residential property is marketed to any limited or exclusive group, it must also be marketed to:

  • The general public
  • All other brokers

at the same time.

Can a seller still choose not to place their property in the MLS?

Possibly, but brokers must ensure their marketing practices comply with SB 6091.

The law regulates how a property is marketed, not necessarily whether it is entered into the MLS. Marketing a property privately to a select audience without concurrently marketing it to the public and all brokers may create compliance concerns.

Does the law require a seller to allow showings or open houses?

No. The law specifically states that marketing to the general public does not require an owner to allow access onto the property or into the residence.

A seller may still limit physical access to the property.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes. The law contains an exception when limiting marketing is reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant.

  • Domestic violence concerns
  • Threats to occupant safety
  • Other documented health or safety issues

Does SB 6091 apply to all property types?

The statute specifically applies to the sale or lease of residential real estate. Members should consult legal counsel regarding specific property classifications and unique situations.

How does SB 6091 affect MLS Rules and Regulations?

The Spokane REALTORS® Board of Directors has approved amendments to the MLS Rules and Regulations to align with the requirements of SB 6091. These changes are intended to:

  • Clarify compliance expectations regarding marketing practices.
  • Reference the requirements established by SB 6091.

Will Spokane REALTORS® create new MLS statuses because of SB 6091?

No. At this time, Spokane REALTORS® does not anticipate creating new listing statuses specifically related to SB 6091.

Does the law change MLS filing deadlines?

No. Existing Spokane REALTORS® filing requirements remain in effect unless otherwise amended by the Spokane REALTORS® Board of Directors.

What are examples of marketing under SB 6091?

  • Social media posts
  • Email campaigns
  • Flyers
  • Brokerage websites
  • Broker-to-broker communications
  • Office marketing meetings
  • Private networking groups
  • Public advertising

What happens if a broker violates SB 6091?

  • Investigation by the Washington State Department of Licensing
  • Possible disciplinary action under state law
  • Potential MLS compliance action if MLS rules are implicated

Forms & Compliance Questions

Questions about statewide forms, seller instructions, limited marketing, and active listing requirements.

Do I need a special form if a seller wants limited marketing because of a health or safety concern?

Yes. A new statewide form, Seller's Request for Limited Marketing (Form 1LM-SWF), was created specifically for situations where an owner's or occupant's health or safety concern reasonably necessitates limiting marketing of a residential property.

What is Form 1LM-SWF?

Form 1LM-SWF is a new statewide form that allows a seller to provide written instructions when health or safety concerns require marketing restrictions that would otherwise not be permitted under SB 6091.

The form explains the risks of limited marketing and documents the seller's instructions. Brokers should retain a copy in their transaction file.

What marketing restrictions can a seller request using Form 1LM-SWF?

The form provides several options, including:

  • No Public Internet Advertising
  • Unpublished Listing
  • Other specific marketing restrictions necessary to address a health or safety concern

These options are available only when a health or safety concern reasonably necessitates limited marketing.

Does Form 1LM-SWF require the seller to disclose private medical information?

No. The form does not ask the seller to provide specific health or safety details. Instead, the seller simply represents that a health or safety concern exists that reasonably necessitates limited marketing.

Has the Listing Agreement changed because of SB 6091?

Yes. The statewide Listing Agreements, Forms 1A-SWF and 1B-SWF, now include a new Fair Marketing section that informs sellers of the broad marketing requirements under RCW 18.86 and SB 6091.

Can a seller still opt out of internet marketing?

Generally, no.

The statewide Listing Agreements have removed the option that previously allowed sellers to choose not to have their property listed on the internet. This change was made because SB 6091 generally requires broad marketing unless a health or safety exception applies.

Can a seller still hide the property address from public websites?

Yes. The revised Listing Agreements continue to allow sellers to omit the property address when displaying the listing on the internet.

If a seller has privacy concerns, what options are available besides limited marketing?

Sellers may still have options that address privacy, safety, and access concerns without limiting the marketing audience.

  • Property access restrictions
  • Showing limitations
  • Privacy protections
  • Security-related showing instructions
  • Health or safety-related access instructions

Do active listings need an updated Form 17?

Yes. For listings that remain active on June 11, 2026, sellers should complete the revised Form 17 and replace the prior version.

If a transaction is already pending on June 11, a new Form 17 is not required unless the transaction fails and the property returns to active status.

This FAQ is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.