Seattle homeowners who are tired of repeated calls, texts, and emails from real estate solicitors could soon have a new way to say no.
Councilmember Dionne Foster has introduced legislation that would create a “Do Not Solicit List” for homeowners who want to opt out of unwanted real estate communications, according to The Seattle Medium.
The proposal is aimed at property owners who say they are repeatedly contacted by people trying to buy homes that are not listed for sale.
Persistent solicitation can put pressure on owners to consider offers before they have checked market value, spoken with a real estate professional, or reviewed the legal and financial consequences of selling.
The List Would Let Homeowners Opt Out
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Under Foster’s proposal, homeowners who have experienced unwanted real estate solicitations could voluntarily add themselves to a city list.
Foster told The Seattle Medium that the legislation is meant to cover different forms of contact, including phone calls, emails, and text messages. If approved, the city would create a process for residents to register their property and acknowledge that they have received unwanted solicitation.
The Proposal Focuses on Legacy Homeowners
Foster said the idea came from conversations with residents, especially Black homeowners, who described repeated outreach from real estate solicitors.
She framed the proposal as both a privacy measure and a homeownership protection. In neighborhoods where property values have climbed sharply, repeated purchase pressure can affect families trying to keep a home, preserve equity, or pass property to the next generation.
Violations Could Bring Penalties
According to The Seattle Medium, the legislation would include enforcement tools for violations of the Do Not Solicit List.
Foster said the proposal would provide a private right of action, along with fees and penalties that could be assessed if covered homeowners continue to receive prohibited solicitations after joining the list.
Other Cities Have Used Similar Protections
Foster said the Seattle proposal is modeled after protections used in places such as Philadelphia and New York.
Philadelphia allows residential property owners to join a Do Not Solicit list and says enrollment does not prevent an owner from selling the home or listing it with a real estate broker. New York’s Department of State also uses cease-and-desist zones in certain areas where homeowners have faced repeated real estate solicitation.
Seattle Already Added Homebuyer Disclosure Rules
The new proposal would build on Seattle’s existing rules for unsolicited residential property purchase offers.
Ordinance 127292, passed in 2025, requires certain disclosures before an offer is presented to buy a residential property that is not publicly listed for sale. A Do Not Solicit List would move earlier in the process by giving homeowners a formal way to reduce unwanted contact before an offer is made.