Washington Late Fee Law
Washington has no statute capping residential late fees. State law requires a grace period of 5 days before a late fee can be charged.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Washington late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capRCW 59.18.170 |
|---|---|
| Grace period | 5 daysRCW 59.18.170(2) |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | 14 days (14-day notice to pay rent or vacate the premises)RCW 59.12.030(3), RCW 59.18.057, RCW 59.18.650(2)(a) |
Grace period
- In effect since .
- Before : No statutory grace period; added by SHB 2535 (Laws of 2020, ch. 177).
Notice before filing for unpaid rent
- In effect since .
- Before : 3-day notice to pay rent or vacate (changed to 14 days by ESSB 5600, Laws of 2019, ch. 356).
What Washington law says
Is there a limit on late fees in Washington?
Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act sets no dollar or percentage cap on late fees for apartments and rental houses, only a 5-day grace period (RCW 59.18.170).
Does Washington require a grace period before a late fee?
Landlords may not charge a late fee for rent paid within five days after its due date; after that, fees may run from the first day after the due date (RCW 59.18.170(2)).
How much notice must a Washington landlord give for unpaid rent?
For unpaid rent, serve the statutory 14-day notice to pay or vacate (using the RCW 59.18.057 form) and wait 14 days after service before filing for eviction (RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057).
How Washington compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 4 require a longer grace period than 5 days.
None of Washington's 2 neighbors follows the same rule.
Local rules in Washington
Several cities add stricter rules on top of state law: Seattle caps the security deposit plus move-in fees at one month's rent (move-in fees ≤10% of first month's rent, pet deposit ≤25%), caps late fees at $10/month (SMC 7.24.034), and requires 180 days' notice of rent increases; Tacoma and Bellingham require 120 days' notice of rent increases. Other cities (e.g., Burien, Federal Way, Kenmore, Redmond, Spokane, King County unincorporated) have their own ordinances — check the city code. State law preempts city rent control (RCW 35.21.830), but the statewide rent-increase cap (RCW 59.18.700) applies everywhere.
Other Washington rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capRCW 59.18.610, RCW 59.18.260 |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-outRCW 59.18.280(1) |
| Entry notice | 48 hours' noticeRCW 59.18.150(5)-(6) |
| Rent-increase notice | 90 days (30 days for subsidized tenancies where rent is based on tenant income. Notice must use the statutory 'Rent and Fee Increase Notice' form (RCW 59.18.720) and cannot take effect before the end of a fixed term. Local: Seattle 180 days; Tacoma and Bellingham 120 days)RCW 59.18.140(3), RCW 59.18.720 |
| Month-to-month termination | Landlord 90 days · tenant 20 daysRCW 59.18.650, RCW 59.18.200, RCW 59.12.030(2) |
Read the Washington law
Put the late fee and grace period in writing
Related
- Washington lease agreement
- Washington landlord-tenant law
- Late fee laws in every state
- Washington notice to vacate
- Washington late rent notice
- Washington rent increase notice
- Washington security deposit return letter
- Washington notice of entry
- Washington lease termination letter
- Washington lease renewal letter