🏠 WASHINGTON · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Washington
In Washington, Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Washington sets no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: liability for the full deposit; courts may award up to twice the deposit for intentional refusal, plus attorney fees.
The Washington statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280
Landlord must mail or deliver a full and specific itemized statement with supporting documentation (estimates/invoices) plus any refund within 30 days after tenancy termination and vacation (extended from 21 days effective July 23, 2023). Missing the deadline forfeits the right to retain any of the deposit; courts may award up to 2x the deposit for intentional refusal. No deductions for wear resulting from ordinary use. Verified against primary statute text (app.leg.wa.gov) 2026-07-01.
Read the Washington source text →Washington deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Washington requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | No statutory limit |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Liability for the full deposit; courts may award up to twice the deposit for intentional refusal, plus attorney fees |
| Governing statute | Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 |
CHANGED FROM 21 DAYS. 2023 c 331 s 4 extended the deadline to 30 days effective July 23, 2023 — the seed value of 21 days was the superseded figure. The statement must now include estimates or invoices substantiating each damage charge. Every figure here was read from the Washington statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Washington
The 30 days clock in WashingtonWash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 sets Washington's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy. CHANGED FROM 21 DAYS. 2023 c 331 s 4 extended the deadline to 30 days effective July 23, 2023 — the seed value of 21 days was the superseded figure. The statement must now include estimates or invoices substantiating each damage charge.
Washington does not cap the depositWashington sets no statutory ceiling on the deposit amount, so the lease controls how much you can be charged. The return deadline and itemization rules in Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 still apply in full.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Washington requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in WashingtonLiability for the full deposit; courts may award up to twice the deposit for intentional refusal, plus attorney fees — that is the remedy Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Washington, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Washington the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Washington small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (liability for the full deposit; courts may award up to twice the deposit for intentional refusal, plus attorney fees) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Washington
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Washington?
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. CHANGED FROM 21 DAYS. 2023 c 331 s 4 extended the deadline to 30 days effective July 23, 2023 — the seed value of 21 days was the superseded figure. The statement must now include estimates or invoices substantiating each damage charge.
What happens if my Washington landlord misses the deadline?
Liability for the full deposit; courts may award up to twice the deposit for intentional refusal, plus attorney fees. That remedy is written into Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Washington?
Washington sets no statutory maximum, so the amount is whatever the lease sets. The deadline and itemization requirements in Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280 still apply regardless of size.
Can my Washington landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.