Senate Bill Report - SB 5844, Individual Storage Space Rental Agreements (January 20, 2026)

Summary

Senate Bill Report on SB 5844, as of January 20, 2026, for the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development, with committee activity listed for 1/22/26. The bill concerns the delivery, execution, acceptance, and provisions of individual storage space rental agreements. The summary of the bill says an occupant who continues to use a storage space for 30 days after receiving a rental agreement is bound by it even without a signature, and that a notice of termination or nonrenewal must provide at least 15 days to remove personal property. The report lists Appropriation: None and Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                  SB 5844

                                      As of January 20, 2026

Title: An act relating to the delivery, execution, acceptance, and provisions of individual storage
     space rental agreements and modifying the use of individual storage spaces after notice of
     termination or nonrenewal of rental agreements.

Brief Description: Concerning the delivery, execution, acceptance, and provisions of individual
     storage space rental agreements and modifying the use of individual storage spaces after
     notice of termination or nonrenewal of rental agreements.

Sponsors: Senators Lovick, Schoesler, Dozier, Fortunato, Wilson, C. and Wilson, J..

Brief History:
     Committee Activity: Business, Trade & Economic Development: 1/22/26.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
           • Authorizes electronic delivery and acceptance of storage space
             rental contracts, and provides for the automatic acceptance of the
             contracts.
           • Creates a uniform process for the termination or nonrenewal of storage
             space rental contracts and the removal of personal property from storage
             facilities.


SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

     Staff: William Bridges (786-7312)

     Background: Self-Service Storage Facilities. Self-service storage facilities in Washington,
     in which a building or property owner rents space to an occupant for the storage of goods,
     are governed by the Washington Self-Service Storage Facility Act. Among other things, the
     act requires written rental agreements; allows owners to deny occupants access to their




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Senate Bill Report                              -1-                                             SB 5844
     rented units after six days of non-payment, if specified in the contract; authorizes owners to
     enforce unpaid rent by a lien; and allows owners to sell the occupant’s storage property
     after 14 consecutive days of unpaid rent in order to satisfy the lien. There are no statutory
     remedies for non-monetary defaults, such as the violation of facility rules.

     Summary of Bill: Authorizing Electronic Contracts and Providing for the Automatic
     Acceptance of Contracts. Rental agreements for individual storage space in self-service
     storage facilities may be delivered and signed electronically, as well as by hand delivery,
     first-class mail, or email. If an occupant continues to use a storage space for 30 days after
     receiving a rental agreement, that agreement becomes legally enforceable, even without a
     physical or electronic signature.

     Creating a Uniform Process for the Termination or Nonrenewal of Self-Service Storage
     Contracts. A rental agreement may contain a provision notifying the occupant of the
     owner’s right to dispose of personal property remaining at the self-service storage facility
     more than five days after the termination or non-renewal of the agreement.

     A notice of termination of nonrenewal given to an occupant must be hand delivered,
     emailed, or sent by any method of mailing that is offered by the United States postal service
     that provides evidence of mailing. The notice must provide at least 15 days for an occupant
     to remove their personal property from the self-service storage facility. Prior to the
     occupant’s removal of belongings, owners may place reasonable restrictions on the
     occupant's use of the self-storage facility, including denying access to the facility except for
     the occupant to remove personal property during the owner's office hours. The owner may
     dispose of any personal property remaining at the self-service storage facility after the date
     provided in the written notice.

     Appropriation: None.

     Fiscal Note: Not requested.

     Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

     Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.




Senate Bill Report                              -2-                                          SB 5844


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