King County restaurants with labor violations to post transgression in 2026

By this time next year, restaurants in King County that have violated labor laws will be required to post the violations alongside their food safety ratings.

The county law, which takes effect in August 2026, targets establishments with unpaid fines or unresolved violations — after they’ve exhausted appeals. These restaurants will also undergo extra health inspections until they resolve the issue.

Santa Clara and San Diego counties, both in California, already practice this ruling.

According to restaurant data obtained by KING 5, Labor and Industries sent approximately 15 King County food service businesses to collections for unpaid violations each year between July 2020 and June 2024.

The new rule was met with some opposition, including from the Washington Hospitality Association, which argued it shifts the health department away from its core mission and blurs the line between health enforcement and labor policy.

“Health officials play a critical role in ensuring safe environments for customers, workers, and employers, and that role should remain distinct from labor policy enforcement,” Jeff Gunn, the association’s government affairs manager, said in testimony, according to KING 5.