How Much Notice Does a Landlord Have to Give for Unpaid Rent in Washington? (14 Days)

In Washington, a landlord must serve a 14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate before filing an eviction for unpaid rent. The statute is RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057(1). In short: 14 days after service to pay rent, utilities and recurring charges or vacate, in the mandatory statutory form.

What RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057(1) requires

• Notice period: 14 days.
• How the days are counted: The day of service is excluded and the last day is included; if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday it is excluded too.
• Watch out: Only rent, utilities and recurring or periodic charges identified in the lease belong on this form. Late fees and one-time charges do not.
• Watch out: The court will compare your notice to the statutory form word for word; do not edit the mandated paragraphs.
• Watch out: Seattle, Tacoma and other cities require additional notices with any eviction notice; check the local ordinance.
• Statute: RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057(1).

How the notice can be served in Washington

• Hand-delivered to the tenant: Deliver a copy to the tenant personally.
• Left with a person of suitable age at the premises, and mailed (adds 5 days before the period starts): If the tenant is absent, leave a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the premises AND mail a copy to the tenant. Five additional days are allowed when service includes mailing.
• Posted conspicuously, delivered to any resident found, and mailed (adds 5 days before the period starts): If no person of suitable age can be found, affix a copy conspicuously on the premises, deliver a copy to any person residing there if found, AND mail a copy. Five additional days are allowed when service includes mailing.

Record the method, the date, and who delivered it. The service date is where the 14-day count begins, and it is the first thing a judge checks.

When the period ends

A notice that miscounts the period, or is filed on before it has run, gets the case dismissed rather than delayed, and the landlord starts over with a fresh notice. Count from the service date under the Washington rule above, add any mailing days for the method used, and file only after the last day has passed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the day I serve the notice count as day one in Washington?
A: The day of service is excluded and the last day is included; if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday it is excluded too. Apply that rule to the service date, then add the mailing allowance if the method calls for one.

Q: Can a Washington landlord serve the notice by mail?
A: Yes. Left with a person of suitable age at the premises, and mailed adds 5 days; Posted conspicuously, delivered to any resident found, and mailed adds 5 days. Keep the receipt.

Q: What if the tenant pays some of the rent during the 14 days?
A: Accepting partial payment can affect the notice; read the cautions above before deciding, and put any agreement in writing. When in doubt, a fresh notice is cheaper than a dismissed case.

Sources Checked

• Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 (the Washington statute cited above)
• RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057(1) (the Washington notice statute)
• LeaseLenses Washington deposit and notice data set, last reviewed 2026-09-19; the same data powers the Washington document tools
• Washington landlord-tenant overview and the Washington deposit rules page

This page is general legal information for Washington, not legal advice. Statutes change; read the current text before relying on a deadline in court.