Washington Eviction Notice
Create a proper Washington eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
What happens after the notice in Washington
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Washington’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- What the case is called. In Washington an eviction lawsuit is a(n) unlawful detainer action. — RCW 59.18.650(3) ↗
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Superior Court. — RCW 36.18.020(2)(a) ↗
- How to serve the notice. Personal delivery; or if absent, leaving copy with person of suitable age at premises plus mailing; or posting conspicuously plus mailing (mail adds 5 days). — RCW 59.12.040 ↗
- Filing fee. $45 case initiating filing fee for unlawful detainer (statewide, superior court) — RCW 36.18.020(2)(a) ↗
- Official notice form. Washington’s courts publish an official notice form — compare it with the one you generate here. — Washington State Attorney General – Landlord-Tenant page (14-day notice) ↗
- No self-help. RCW 59.18.290(1) – unlawful to remove or exclude tenant except under court order — RCW 59.18.290(1) ↗
Each point links to the Washington source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Washington notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- 14 days
- Lease violation (cure)
- 10 days
- End month-to-month
- 20 days
Source: RCW 59.12.030; RCW 59.18.650 (just-cause) · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.
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Types of eviction notice
- Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
- Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
- Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.
Washington notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Washington law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Washington eviction rules before serving.
If the tenant moves out still owing rent, the notice won’t collect it. Put the amount and a deadline in writing with a Washington demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in Washington small claims court, where the limit is $10,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Washington?
In Washington, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 14 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: RCW 59.12.030; RCW 59.18.650 (just-cause). Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.
How do I serve the notice in Washington?
States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Washington’s method carefully.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Washington.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Washington?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Superior Court (the case is called a(n) unlawful detainer action). Source: RCW 36.18.020(2)(a).
How must an eviction notice be served in Washington?
Personal delivery; or if absent, leaving copy with person of suitable age at premises plus mailing; or posting conspicuously plus mailing (mail adds 5 days). Source: RCW 59.12.040.
What does it cost to file an eviction in Washington?
$45 case initiating filing fee for unlawful detainer (statewide, superior court) Source: RCW 36.18.020(2)(a).
How does Washington compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.
How Washington compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Washington: RCW 59.12.030; RCW 59.18.650 (just-cause) ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Notice to pay rent or quit: 14 days — about 3× the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Idaho (3 days), Oregon (10 days). Washington's 14 days is the longest among its neighbors.
- Notice to cure a lease violation
Notice to cure a lease violation: 10 days — below the national median of 14 days across the 38 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.
Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Idaho (3 days), Oregon (30 days).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 20 days — below the national median of 30 days across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #45 of 51 states — higher means a longer notice period.
No other state uses exactly this figure.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Idaho (30 days), Oregon (30 days). Washington's 20 days is the shortest among its neighbors.
The rest of what Washington requires
The figures below are Washington's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Washington page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Rev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023) ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Rev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023) ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 20 days Rev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023) ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $10,000 RCW ch. 12.40 (limit at RCW 12.40.010) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Department of the District Court · filing fee $35 plus a dispute-resolution-center surcharge (up to $15) in participating counties, so typically $35-$50 total (RCW 12.40.020; RCW 7.75.035). RCW ch. 12.40 (limit at RCW 12.40.010) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Limited to the actual cost of screening Washington Legislature ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Washington DOL (Form TD-420-065) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Rev. Code Wash. §11.125.050 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules RCW 25.15.006(8); RCW 25.15.018 ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Auditor (the 'recording officer' of the county where the property is situated, RCW 65.08.070; in a few charter counties a separate Recorder's Office) · no witnesses RCW 64.04.020 ↗
Eviction notice in other states
More Washington legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →