Washington · verified 2026-07-23

Washington security deposit deadline & deductions

You have 30 days — within 30 days of tenancy ending

Deadline
30 days
Itemized statement
Required by statute
Receipts
No threshold verified
Statute
RCW 59.18.280

30 days sits mid-range: 6 of the 26 states verified here are shorter, 6 are longer.

Same deadline as Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan and 7 more.

Full itemized statement of deductions due within 30 days of the tenancy ending.

When the Washington clock runs out

The deadline runs from the end of the tenancy, not from when you get round to inspecting. On Washington's 30-day rule, these are the dates you would be working to:

Tenant moves outStatement and refund due by
January 31, 2026March 2, 2026
April 15, 2026May 15, 2026
July 31, 2026August 30, 2026
November 30, 2026December 30, 2026

Does Washington require an itemized statement?

Yes — Washington requires an itemized written statement of any deductions rather than a lump sum, under RCW 59.18.280. Each charge needs to stand on its own: what was damaged, and what it cost to put right.

What you can actually charge for

Washington statute sets the deadline and the paperwork; it does not publish a table of what a worn carpet is worth. The defensible method — charging only the useful life the tenant used up early, and excluding normal wear — is the same in every state, and is explained on the calculator, which builds the itemized statement and puts the Washington deadline on it.

Work out Washington deductions →

Next: Washington deposit return letter · move-in report · every state’s deadline

Washington rule last checked 2026-07-23 against RCW 59.18.280. General information, not legal advice — confirm the current statute before sending a deduction statement.

Everything else we’ve researched about Washington

Same state, the problems either side of this one. Each carries its own statute and the date we last checked it.