How long does an eviction take in Washington?
For unpaid rent, expect about 6 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Washington, and anywhere from 4 to 11.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Washington eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 14 daysofficial source
14-day pay-or-vacate notice (Wash. Rev. Code §§ 59.12.030(3), 59.18.057) source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 10-35 days (typical 21)official source
Order to show cause served 7-30 days before the hearing source - Judgment to lockout 4-10 daysofficial source
Sheriff 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) source - If the tenant appeals official source
An 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 source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
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
Eviction costs in Washington
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $45 | Statewide: Unlawful detainer filing fee $45 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $77 | King County: King County Sheriff civil process service $77 plus mileage (2026 schedule) official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $162 | King County: King County Sheriff writ of restitution $162 plus double mileage (2026 schedule) official source source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,824/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$14) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | Yes | Statewide cap: 7% + CPI, max 10% (from 2025) secondary source source |
| Statewide just-cause rules | Yes | Statewide just cause (RCW 59.18.650) official source source |
| Right to counsel for tenants | Yes | Statewide right to counsel for income-qualified tenants (2021) secondary source source |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | Yes | Eviction resolution program before filing nonpayment cases (RCW 59.18.660) official source source |
| Local rules | Check | Seattle has its own universal right to counsel and extra notice rules. |
Eviction cost calculator for Washington
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 43/100
Timeline 33.3/50 · right to cure 7/20 · statewide protections 3/30. How the score works.
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 EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
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).
Is Washington landlord-friendly for evictions?
Washington scores 43 out of 100 on the EvictionMath 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
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | app.leg.wa.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | apps.leg.wa.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | app.leg.wa.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | app.leg.wa.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | apps.leg.wa.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | cdn.kingcounty.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | official source | cdn.kingcounty.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Rent control | secondary source | naahq.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Just cause | official source | app.leg.wa.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Right to counsel | secondary source | civilrighttocounsel.org | 2026-10-17 |
| Mediation | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Every field on this page has a source. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Washington (43, 6 wk) · California (49, 8.5 wk) · New Jersey (49, 7 wk) · Vermont (56, 11 wk) · Maryland (59, 6.5 wk)