How long does a Washington landlord have to return a security deposit?

30 days under RCW 59.18.280(1).

What is the maximum late fee in Washington?

Washington sets no statutory cap. A reasonableness standard applies instead, so a fee has to bear some relation to what the late payment actually costs the landlord.

How much notice before a rent increase in Washington?

90 days under RCW 59.18.140; RCW 59.18.700, 59.18.710.

Does Washington have rent control?

No statewide frequency limit is verified for Washington. Only California, Oregon and Washington cap the amount of an increase statewide; some cities do so locally.

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State Guide

Landlord–tenant law in Washington

The rules that come up in practice — returning a deposit, charging a late fee, raising the rent — each read against the Washington statute and quoted on its own page.

Security deposit return

Full rule →

30 days

The 16th shortest of 49 states with a deadline.

RCW 59.18.280(1)

Late fee limit

Full rule →

No statutory cap

No fee until rent is 5 days late.

RCW 59.18.170(2)-(3)

Rent increase notice

Full rule →

90 days

A statute written specifically about rent increases. The 47th shortest of 49.

RCW 59.18.140; RCW 59.18.700, 59.18.710

What is distinctive about Washington

Deposits: 30 days. Was 21 days before the 2023 amendment; documentation of charges is now required.
Late fees: uncapped by statute, so the limit is whatever a court would call reasonable. A 5-day grace period is mandatory.
Rent increases: 90 days under a statute written for the purpose.

The mistake that costs the most here

Treating “no statutory cap” as no limit. A late fee in Washingtonis liquidated damages, and one set as a round percentage with no relation to the landlord’s actual cost is the kind of clause a judge strikes out.

Where these figures come from

Each rule above was read against the section it cites and the statutory wording is quoted on the dedicated page, so you can check it rather than take our word for it. That matters more than it sounds on this subject: when we read all 51 jurisdictions we found several widely-published figures to be wrong, including a Kentucky deposit deadline that does not exist, a South Dakota one reported as 14 days when the statute says 21, and late-fee caps for nine states that actually come from their self-storage statutes.

Local ordinances can add requirements the state does not, and statutes move — Washington, Connecticut, Nevada, Rhode Island and Maryland have all changed in the last three years. Each figure carries the date we read it.

States with the same deposit deadline

Colorado Georgia Illinois Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Michigan Missouri

Common questions about Washington

How long does a Washington landlord have to return a security deposit?: 30 days under RCW 59.18.280(1).
What is the maximum late fee in Washington?: Washington sets no statutory cap. A reasonableness standard applies instead, so a fee has to bear some relation to what the late payment actually costs the landlord.
How much notice before a rent increase in Washington?: 90 days under RCW 59.18.140; RCW 59.18.700, 59.18.710.
Does Washington have rent control?: No statewide frequency limit is verified for Washington. Only California, Oregon and Washington cap the amount of an increase statewide; some cities do so locally.

Let the software know the Washington rules

Pacific Rentals Pro checks a lease’s late fee against the Washington cap, counts the deposit deadline from the move-out date, and works out the latest day to serve a rent increase. Same verified data as this page.

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Washington rules last read against their cited sources on November 6, 2026. General information, not legal advice — verify the current text before relying on it, and check your city and county, which can impose more than the state does.