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How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Washington?
Short answer
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
Notice: 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.
"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
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