The notices and their periods
- 14-Day Pay or Vacate — for nonpayment (RCW 59.12.030(3)); the notice must follow the statutory form in RCW 59.18.057, including legal-aid and dispute-resolution information.
- 10-Day Comply or Vacate — for a curable breach of a material lease term — the tenant has 10 days to fix the issue or move out.
- 3-Day Notice to Quit — for waste, nuisance, or illegal activity — no opportunity to cure.
Ending a tenancy and serving notice
Washington is a statewide just-cause state (RCW 59.18.650): a landlord may end a tenancy only for an enumerated cause. For qualifying no-fault reasons — such as an owner moving in or selling — a 20-day notice before the end of the rental period is generally required. There is no plain no-cause termination.
Termination notices are served by the methods in RCW 59.12.040 (personal, substituted, or post-and-mail). If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord files an unlawful detainer action in Superior Court.
Just cause and rent caps
Because Washington requires just cause statewide, a landlord can't simply decline to renew without an enumerated reason once a tenant has lived in the unit six months. A tenant can stop a nonpayment case by paying within the 14 days (and, with rental assistance, sometimes after). Washington also caps rent increases (7% plus inflation, up to 10%), and Seattle and Tacoma add local rules.
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How many days' notice for nonpayment in Washington?
14 days — a 14-Day Pay or Vacate notice that must use the statutory form (RCW 59.12.030(3); 59.18.057).
Can a Washington landlord evict without cause?
No. Washington is a statewide just-cause state (RCW 59.18.650); the landlord must point to an enumerated reason, each with its own notice period.
What notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Washington?
Only for a just cause. For qualifying no-fault reasons like owner move-in or sale, a 20-day notice is generally required.
More notice types: Pay or Quit · Cure or Quit · Unconditional Quit · eviction notices overview. By state: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · New Jersey · Virginia · Arizona · Massachusetts · Tennessee · Indiana · Missouri · Maryland · Wisconsin · Minnesota · South Carolina · Alabama · Louisiana · Kentucky · Oregon · Oklahoma · Connecticut · Utah · Nevada · Iowa · Arkansas · Mississippi · Kansas · New Mexico · Nebraska · Idaho · West Virginia · Colorado · Hawaii · New Hampshire · Maine · Montana · Rhode Island · Delaware · South Dakota · North Dakota · Alaska · Vermont · Wyoming · Washington, D.C..
WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules are strict and vary by state, county, and city — many cities add rent-control or just-cause requirements on top of state law, and an improper or mistimed notice can get an eviction case delayed or dismissed. Verify the current requirements for your property's location and, for contested or high-stakes evictions, consult a landlord-tenant attorney. Statute references verified June 2026.