How long does an eviction take in Washington?
For unpaid rent, expect about 6 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 4 to 11.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Washington actually earn?
We'll prefill Washington's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,824/mo
- Property tax 0.78%–0.79%
- Insurance $886–$1,413/yr
- Vacancy 4.8%–5.7%
The Washington eviction timeline
Each step comes from Washington's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 6 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
14 days14-day pay-or-vacate notice (Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.12.030(3), 59.18.057)
- 2
File and get a judgment
10–35 days · typical 21Order to show cause served 7-30 days before the hearing
- 3
Judgment to lockout
4–10 daysSheriff can't execute the writ until the 3rd day after serving it (RCW 59.18.390); the writ is returnable within 10 days (RCW 59.18.380)
- 4
If the tenant appeals
Window not verifiedAn appeal stays the eviction only if the tenant posts a bond (RCW 59.12.220). We did not find an official eviction-specific appeal window
Can the tenant pay and stay? Tenant can stay a pre-judgment writ by paying rent owed into court within 3 days. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Washington
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$45Unlawful detainer filing fee $45
Serving the tenant
King County$77King County Sheriff civil process service $77 plus mileage (2026 schedule)
Sheriff or marshal lockout
King County$162King County Sheriff writ of restitution $162 plus double mileage (2026 schedule)
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,824/moWashington median gross rent, ±$14. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: Yes
Statewide cap: 7% + CPI, max 10% (from 2025)
Statewide just-cause rules: Yes
Statewide just cause (RCW 59.18.650)
Right to counsel for tenants: Yes
Statewide right to counsel for income-qualified tenants (2021)
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: Yes
Eviction resolution program before filing nonpayment cases (RCW 59.18.660)
Local rules: Seattle has its own universal right to counsel and extra notice rules.
Washington scores 43 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Washington eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Washington?
A nonpayment eviction in Washington typically takes about 6 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 4 to 11.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Washington?
14-day pay-or-vacate notice (Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.12.030(3), 59.18.057).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Washington by paying the rent?
Tenant can stay a pre-judgment writ by paying rent owed into court within 3 days.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Washington?
The court filing fee is $45 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Washington?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Washington costs a landlord roughly $3,300 to $4,300: about 6 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,824/month (about $2,500), court and service fees of about $284-$284, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 11.5 weeks can pass $7,100. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Washington landlord-friendly for evictions?
Washington scores 43 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 33.3/50, right to cure 7/20, statewide tenant protections 3/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Every field on this page has a source. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourceapp.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourceapps.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourceapp.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourceapp.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourceapps.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Service feeofficial sourcecdn.kingcounty.gov ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourcecdn.kingcounty.gov ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourceapp.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Rent controlsecondary sourcenaahq.org ↗
- Just causeofficial sourceapp.leg.wa.gov ↗
- Right to counselsecondary sourcecivilrighttocounsel.org ↗
- Mediationofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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