Washington Rent Increase Notice

What Washington law says

• Commerce says the limit is up to 7% plus CPI or 10%, whichever is less; for 2026 it is 9.683% and for 2027 it is 10%.
• The final bill report says landlords must give at least 90 days written notice of a rent increase, up from 60.
• Rent increases are barred during the first 12 months of a tenancy.
• Exemptions include buildings with a certificate of occupancy 12 or fewer years before the notice, and some owner-occupied rentals.
• Landlords claiming an exemption must state it on the required notice, with supporting facts.

Steps for a landlord

• Check whether the rental is exempt.
• Confirm the current year cap from Commerce.
• Give 90 days written notice on the required form.
• Do not raise rent in the first 12 months.

What to put in the notice

• The tenants' names and the rental address
• The current rent and the new rent
• The date the new rent starts, after the required notice period
• The date of the notice and how it was delivered
• Your name and signature

Things to watch

• The pages do not say how fixed-term leases differ beyond a 2025 transition rule; check the statute or an attorney.
• Cities and counties may have stronger local 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.