Washington eviction process

14 days nonpayment notice.

Nonpayment requires a 14-day pay-or-vacate notice. Washington also requires 'just cause' to end most tenancies, so no-cause terminations are limited.

What this means for you: Because just cause is required, a landlord generally needs a legitimate, statutory reason to make you leave — not merely the end of a lease term.

Your next step: Paying within the 14 days stops a nonpayment case. Washington offers eviction defense resources and a right to counsel for low-income tenants.

Source: Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.12.030, 59.18.650. Reviewed 2026-06-16.

More Washington rights: Washington security deposit · Washington repairs · Washington entry notice · Washington rent increase.

Eviction in nearby states: Oregon (10 days nonpayment notice) · Idaho (3 days nonpayment notice).

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by locality; consult a licensed attorney or your local housing authority.

Updated July 2026