Washington Rental Application
Fill out a Washington rental application below and download a print-ready PDF — identity, rental history, employment, references and screening consent. Free, no signup.
Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified July 2026 · Not legal advice.
Washington application-fee rule · as of July 2026
Actual screening cost only
RCW 59.18.257 — No more than the customary screening cost in the area; prior written disclosure; $100 penalty.
Source: Washington Legislature ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
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Know your Washington rules
Application-fee rules come from state law, not the form: in Washington, actual screening cost only (RCW 59.18.257). Cities can add their own caps. Check the currentWashington screening rules before charging or paying a fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Washington?
Washington only allows charging the actual cost of screening (RCW 59.18.257). No more than the customary screening cost in the area; prior written disclosure; $100 penalty. Source: Washington Legislature.
Is the application a lease?
No. The application only collects information for screening. If approved, landlord and tenant then sign a lease — see our Washington lease agreement template, which reflects Washington's deposit and notice rules.
How does Washington compare? See application-fee limits in all 50 states, every rule cited to statute.
How Washington compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of July 2026). Source for Washington: Washington Legislature ↗.
- Washington is one of 6 of 51 jurisdictions that limit the fee to the landlord's actual screening cost (33 set no statutory limit on application fees; 8 cap the application fee by statute; 4 ban application fees outright).
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 limitRev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023) ↗
- Deposit return deadline· as of 2026
- 30 days after move-outRev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023) ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy· as of 2026
- 20 daysRev. Code Wash. §59.18.280 (30-day rule eff. 7/23/2023) ↗
- Notice for unpaid rent· as of 2026
- 14 days to pay or quitRCW 59.12.030; RCW 59.18.650 (just-cause) ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation· as of 2026
- 10 daysRCW 59.12.030; RCW 59.18.650 (just-cause) ↗
- Small claims limit· as of 2026
- $10,000RCW 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) ↗
- Bill of sale notarization· as of 2026
- Not requiredWashington DOL (Form TD-420-065) ↗
- Power of attorney signing· as of 2026
- Notarization requiredRev. Code Wash. §11.125.050 ↗
- LLC operating agreement· as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rulesRCW 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 witnessesRCW 64.04.020 ↗
Rental application in other states
More Washington legal forms
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