Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Last verified: · Confidence: high
Washington landlord deadlines
Statewide rules for Washington. Cities and counties can add their own rules. Statutes and agency pages: app.leg.wa.gov.
Within 30 days after move-out: refund the deposit and give a full, specific statement for anything kept, with receipts or estimates Verified
Deadline: Within 30 days after move-out
Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant moves out, deliver or mail (first-class) a full and specific statement of the basis for keeping any of the deposit, with copies of estimates, invoices or receipts, and any refund due. No deductions for ordinary wear, or for items not documented on the move-in checklist.
Who it covers: If the tenant abandons the unit, the 30 days run from when you learn of the abandonment. Missing the deadline makes you liable for the full deposit (up to twice the deposit for intentional refusal).
"Within 30 days after the termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises or, if the tenant abandons the premises as defined in RCW 59.18.310, within 30 days after the landlord learns of the abandonment, the landlord shall give a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit," app.leg.wa.gov
"and any documentation required by (b) of this subsection, together with the payment of any refund due the tenant under the terms and conditions of the rental agreement." app.leg.wa.gov
"With the statement required by (a) of this subsection, the landlord shall include copies of estimates received or invoices paid to reasonably substantiate damage charges." app.leg.wa.gov
"For wear resulting from ordinary use of the premises;" app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.280 (2023 c 331, which lengthened the period from 21 to 30 days).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Before taking a deposit: written rental agreement and signed move-in condition checklist; deposit into a Washington trust account with a written receipt Verified
Deadline: At the start of the tenancy, when the deposit is collected
You may collect a deposit only with a written rental agreement that states when it can be withheld and a written move-in checklist describing the condition of walls, floors, furniture and appliances. Promptly put the deposit in a trust account at a Washington financial institution or licensed escrow, give a written receipt, and tell the tenant where it is held. Nonrefundable fees must be labeled nonrefundable in the written agreement.
"No deposit may be collected by a landlord unless the rental agreement is in writing and a written checklist or statement is provided by the landlord to the tenant at the commencement of the tenancy specifically describing the condition and cleanliness of or existing damages to the premises," app.leg.wa.gov
"shall promptly be deposited by the landlord in a trust account, maintained by the landlord for the purpose of holding such security deposits for tenants of the landlord, in a financial institution as defined by *RCW 30.22.041 or licensed escrow agent located in Washington." app.leg.wa.gov
"The landlord shall provide the tenant with a written receipt for the deposit and shall provide written notice of the name and address and location of the depository and any subsequent change thereof." app.leg.wa.gov
"If any moneys are paid to the landlord as a nonrefundable fee, the rental agreement shall be in writing and shall clearly specify that the fee is nonrefundable." app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.285. Interest on the trust account goes to the landlord unless agreed otherwise in writing.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Written fire safety notice (smoke detector, and for multifamily the evacuation plan) when the lease is signed Verified
Deadline: When the lease or rental agreement is signed
Give new tenants a written notice that the unit has a smoke detection device as required by RCW 43.44.110, explaining their duty to maintain it; multifamily buildings may use a checklist with a diagram of evacuation routes. Also name the landlord (and an in-state agent if the landlord lives out of state) in the agreement or a posted notice.
"Provide a written notice to all tenants disclosing fire safety and protection information. The landlord or his or her authorized agent must provide a written notice to the tenant that the dwelling unit is equipped with a smoke detection device as required in RCW 43.44.110." app.leg.wa.gov
"The written notice or checklist must be provided to new tenants at the time the lease or rental agreement is signed;" app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.060(12), (16).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
90 days' written notice of any rent increase, on the state form; no increase during the first 12 months or before a fixed term ends Verified
Deadline: At least 90 days before the rent increase takes effect
Give each affected tenant at least 90 days' prior written notice of a rent increase, in substantially the form set out in RCW 59.18.720, served under RCW 59.12.040. An increase cannot take effect before the end of a fixed-term agreement or during the first 12 months of the tenancy.
Who it covers: Subsidized tenancies with income-based rent: 30 days. Serve the notice under RCW 59.12.040. Local law can require more (Seattle: 180 days).
"a landlord shall provide a minimum of 90 days' prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant, and any increase in the amount of rent may not become effective prior to the completion of the term of the rental agreement." app.leg.wa.gov
"a landlord must provide a tenant with notice of rent increases in a form that is substantially the same as the form provided in subsection (3) of this section." app.leg.wa.gov
"During the first 12 months after the tenancy begins; and" app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.140(3), 59.18.720 (2025 c 209, effective May 7, 2025; previously 60 days).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Rent increase cap: 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less, per 12 months; 10% for 2027 (9.683% for 2026) Verified
Deadline: New yearly cap takes effect every January 1 (Commerce publishes it each summer)
In any 12-month period, rent (including recurring and periodic charges) may rise by no more than 7% plus the Seattle-area CPI or 10%, whichever is less. Commerce publishes the cap each summer for the next calendar year: 9.683% for 2026 and 10% for increases effective January 1 to December 31, 2027.
Who it covers: Exempt (RCW 59.18.710): units whose first certificate of occupancy is 12 years old or less, certain public, nonprofit and tax-credit housing, and some owner-occupied situations (shared kitchen or bath, single-family home with up to two rented units or ADU, owner-occupied duplex to fourplex) unless owned by a REIT, corporation or LLC with a corporate member. Claimed exemptions must be stated with supporting facts in the notice. Expires July 1, 2040.
"During any 12-month period of the tenancy, in an amount greater than seven percent plus the consumer price index, or 10 percent, whichever is less." app.leg.wa.gov
"The maximum annual rent increase percentage allowed for properties subject to Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) unless specifically exempted as defined in RCW 59.18.700 between 1/1/2027 and 12/31/2027 is 10%." commerce.wa.gov
"between 1/1/2026 and 12/31/2026 is 9.683%." commerce.wa.gov
"A tenancy in a dwelling unit for which the first certificate of occupancy was issued 12 or less years before the date of the notice of the rent increase." app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.700, 59.18.710; Department of Commerce HB 1217 Landlord Resource Center (updated October 14, 2026). Calendar date marks when each year's new cap takes effect.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Ending a qualifying fixed-term lease without cause: at least 60 days' written notice before the term ends Verified
Deadline: At least 60 days before the lease ends
Washington is a just-cause state: a landlord may not end or refuse to continue a tenancy except for a listed cause. A qualifying fixed-term lease can end without cause at its expiration only with at least 60 days' advance written notice served under RCW 59.12.040.
Who it covers: Only for an initial 6-12 month lease that would roll to month-to-month, or a lease of 12+ months (or successive 6+ month leases) that never became month-to-month. Otherwise a tenancy can end only for a listed cause (RCW 59.18.650(2)). This text is effective until January 1, 2028, when an amended version takes effect.
"A landlord may not evict a tenant, refuse to continue a tenancy, or end a periodic tenancy except for the causes enumerated in subsection (2) of this section and as otherwise provided in this subsection." app.leg.wa.gov
"The landlord has provided the tenant before the end of the specified period at least 60 days' advance written notice that the tenancy will be deemed expired at the end of such specified period, served in a manner consistent with RCW 59.12.040; and" app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.650(1) (version effective until January 1, 2028).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Just-cause notice periods: 14-day pay or vacate, 10 days to cure a lease breach, 90 days for owner move-in or sale, 120 days for demolition or rehab Verified
Deadline: Before ending a tenancy for cause: 14 days to pay rent; at least 10 days to cure a breach; 90 days for owner or family move-in or sale of a single-family home; 120 days for demolition, substantial rehabilitation or change of use
To end a tenancy for unpaid rent, serve the statutory 14-day notice to pay or vacate. For other lease breaches, give at least 10 days to fix the breach. For an owner or immediate family move-in or the sale of a single-family home, give at least 90 days' written notice; for demolition, substantial rehabilitation or a change of use, at least 120 days.
Who it covers: Other causes have their own periods (e.g. 60 days for other good cause or four or more violations in 12 months, 30 days for uninhabitable condemned units). The 14-day notice must use the statutory form.
"You must pay the total amount due to your landlord within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice or you must vacate the premises." app.leg.wa.gov
"and the breach has not been adequately remedied by the date specified in the notice, which date must be at least 10 days after service of the notice;" app.leg.wa.gov
"and the owner has provided at least 90 days' advance written notice of the date the tenant's possession is to end." app.leg.wa.gov
"Whenever a landlord plans to demolish or substantially rehabilitate premises or plans a change of use of premises, the landlord shall provide a written notice to a tenant at least 120 days before the tenancy ends." app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.057, 59.18.650(2), 59.18.200(2)(c) (versions effective until January 1, 2028).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
2 days' written notice before entry (1 day to show the unit) Verified
Deadline: At least 2 days before entry (1 day before showing the unit to prospective tenants or buyers)
Except in an emergency or when impracticable, give at least two days' written notice before entering, stating the date and time (or the earliest and latest times) and a phone number for objections. One day's notice is enough to show the unit to prospective or actual buyers or tenants. Enter only at reasonable times.
Who it covers: No notice needed in an emergency or after abandonment. The notice must give the date and exact time or a window (earliest and latest time) and a phone number for objections or rescheduling.
"Except in the case of emergency or if it is impracticable to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant at least two days' written notice of his or her intent to enter and shall enter only at reasonable times." app.leg.wa.gov
"The notice must also specify the telephone number to which the tenant may communicate any objection or request to reschedule the entry." app.leg.wa.gov
"The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter the dwelling unit at a specified time where the landlord has given at least one day's no" app.leg.wa.gov
Notes: RCW 59.18.150(6).
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction