Washington · WA · updated 2026
In Washington, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days
Quick answer
A Washington landlord has 30 calendar days after the tenancy ends and you move out to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under Washington security deposit law, a Washington landlord has 30 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends and you move out. By statute, Washington sets no statutory cap on how much a landlord can charge. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 30 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends and you move out
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Required of the landlord
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact Washington deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a Washington landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (Washington requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
Missing the 30-day deadline makes the landlord liable for the full deposit; the court may award up to 2x the deposit for intentional refusal to provide the statement/refund, plus attorney fees. Collecting a deposit without providing the signed checklist forfeits the right to the deposit.
How to get your deposit back in Washington
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common Washington deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- Washington requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Washington?
- In Washington, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Washington?
- Washington statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my Washington landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Washington requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Washington landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. Washington does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Washington landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- Missing the 30-day deadline makes the landlord liable for the full deposit; the court may award up to 2x the deposit for intentional refusal to provide the statement/refund, plus attorney fees. Collecting a deposit without providing the signed checklist forfeits the right to the deposit.
Landlord must give an itemized statement and refund within 30 days of lease end and move-out. If a deposit is collected, a written condition checklist signed by both landlord and tenant is required at move-in; skipping it forfeits the deposit. No statewide cap; no interest required.