Washington Eviction Notice for Unpaid Rent

What Washington law says

• The notice must be in substantially the form in RCW 59.18.057, headed FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR VACATE THE PREMISES.
• It must itemize past-due rent, utilities, and other recurring charges from the lease, with a total amount due.
• It states the tenant must pay within fourteen days after service, by the rental agreement method or nonelectronic means such as a cashier's check or money order.
• It must show the landlord's name, the date, and the address where payment is due.
• Any payment must be applied first to the total amount due on the notice.

Steps for a landlord

• Use the statutory form wording.
• Itemize each charge and the total.
• Give the payment address and accepted payment types.
• Wait out 14 days after service before filing.

What to put in the notice

• The names of the tenants and the address of the rental
• The amount of rent owed and the rental period it covers
• The number of days the tenant has to pay or move out, and the date that period ends
• The date, how the notice was delivered, and who delivered it
• Your name and contact details, with your signature

Things to watch

• The page we read does not say how the notice must be delivered or how the 14 days are counted; check the statute or an attorney.
• The form does not replace other federal, state, or local notice rules.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.