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Renters' Rights · Security Deposit

Security Deposit Laws in Washington

The most a landlord can charge, how long they have to return it, and what it costs them to keep your money without cause in Washington.

Reviewed by PlainStatute EditorialLast reviewed July 2026Verified against §§59.18.260, .270, .280, .28…
Security deposit at a glance · Washington
No cap
Washington sets no statutory maximum on a residential security deposit. Your lease sets the amount.
Maximum depositNo cap
Return deadline30 days
Interest to tenantNot required
Separate accountTrust account required
ItemizationRequired; needs a move-in checklist
PenaltyFull deposit; up to 2× if intentional
Statute§§59.18.260, .270, .280, .28…

What your landlord can hold, and when it's due back

Enter your rent for the Washington maximum, plus the return-deadline clock.

Deposit calculator · Washington
Most a landlord can hold
No legal maximum
Washington sets no statutory cap — the lease controls the amount.
Return clock: 30 days
The deadline runs after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates. Give your landlord a written forwarding address at move-out so the clock starts.

Estimate only, based on Washington's statutory cap. Your lease may set a lower deposit, and local ordinances can be stricter. Not legal advice.

The full rules, with the statute

Every requirement and where it comes from in the code.

Maximum deposit
No statutory limit — Washington does not cap residential security deposits statewide
Return deadline
The landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates (or 30 days after learning the unit was abandoned) to return the deposit with a statement. This was 21 days until 2023 — the deadline changed to 30 days effective July 23, 2023.
Interest to tenant
Not requiredThe landlord is entitled to the interest earned on the trust account unless the lease says otherwise, so no interest is owed to the tenant by default.
Separate account
RequiredThe deposit must be held in a trust account at a financial institution or with a licensed Washington escrow agent, and the landlord must give the tenant a written receipt and notice of where it is held (RCW 59.18.270).
Itemization
The landlord must give a specific written statement of deductions with estimates or invoices. Critically, a landlord may not withhold anything from the deposit at all unless there was a written rental agreement and a written move-in checklist given at the start of the tenancy (RCW 59.18.260).

Penalties & recent changes

What happens if the landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully.

If the landlord withholds wrongfully
The tenant can recover the full deposit, and the court may award up to twice the deposit for an intentional refusal to return it, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees (RCW 59.18.280).
Recent changes

2023 c 331 (HB 1074) (effective 2023-07-23): The return deadline changed from 21 to 30 days. The same act replaced "normal wear and tear" with "wear resulting from ordinary use" and added a three-year limit on landlord claims for excess damage.

What Washington renters get wrong

Washington has a powerful, often-missed gatekeeper rule: a landlord can't keep a single dollar of your deposit unless you signed a written rental agreement and got a written move-in checklist at the start. No checklist, no deductions. The return deadline also caught up with the times in 2023 — it's now 30 days, not the 21 days that older guides still repeat. There's no cap on the deposit amount, but the withholding rules are among the most tenant-friendly in the country.

Common questions

How long does a landlord have to return a deposit in Washington?

30 days after the tenancy ends and you vacate. Note that this changed in July 2023 — many older articles still say 21 days, which is outdated.

Can my Washington landlord keep my deposit without a move-in checklist?

No. Under RCW 59.18.260, a landlord may not withhold anything from the deposit unless there was a written rental agreement and a written checklist describing the unit's condition at move-in. Without them, the whole deposit must be returned.

Is there a maximum security deposit in Washington?

Not statewide. Washington sets no dollar cap on residential security deposits, though some cities regulate payment schedules. The lease sets the amount.

What if my Washington landlord refuses to return my deposit?

You can recover the full deposit, and if the refusal was intentional the court may award up to twice the amount, plus your costs and attorney's fees.

Primary source
→ RCW §§59.18.260, .270, .280, .285
Washington State Legislature · app.leg.wa.gov
PlainStatute Editorial
Every figure on this page is checked line-by-line against the current statute. Editorial standards →

Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.

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