RCW 59.18.170 bars a late fee for rent paid within five days after its due date.
Screening-cost charges depend on the RCW 59.18.257 disclosure framework.
RCW 59.18.285.
RCW 59.18.280.
Washington charge guides
Security Deposit
Washington security deposit checklist, trust-account, 30-day accounting and documentation rules.
Open guide →30-Day Deposit Rule
Washington’s 30-day deadline for the deposit statement, required documentation and refund.
Open guide →Move-In Checklist
Why a signed Washington condition checklist matters before a landlord collects a security deposit.
Open guide →Damage Documentation
Washington move-out damage charges should be supported by invoices, estimates, receipts or documented landlord labor.
Open guide →Wear & Carpet Cleaning
Washington deposit law restricts ordinary-use deductions and routine carpet-cleaning charges.
Open guide →Deposit Trust Account
Washington landlords must place security deposits in a qualifying trust account or licensed escrow arrangement and provide notice.
Open guide →Charges Beyond Deposit
Washington rules for damage claims exceeding the deposit, including documentation and a three-year lawsuit period for newer tenancies.
Open guide →Utility Service Rights
Washington renter rights for landlord-provided utility service, intentional shutoff, urgent loss of water/heat/electricity and covered municipal master-account disconnection notices.
Open guide →Nonrefundable Fees
Washington rules requiring nonrefundable rental fees to be clearly identified in a written rental agreement and distinguishing those fees from refundable deposits.
Open guide →Application Screening Fees
Washington prospective-tenant screening notice, screening-cost, reusable-report and adverse-action requirements under RCW 59.18.257.
Open guide →Rent Late Fees
Washington rent late-fee timing, five-day protection and qualifying due-date adjustment process under RCW 59.18.170.
Open guide →Five-day protected window and due-date timing rules.Application Screening Fees
Advance notice, screening cost, reusable reports and adverse action.Nonrefundable Fees
Written designation and deposit treatment.Security Deposits
Checklist, trust account and accounting.Utility Service Rights
Essential-service and utility-protection framework.
Primary sources
Current Washington rule prohibiting a late fee for rent paid within five days after the due date, permitting late fees after that window to run from the first day after the due date, and providing a limited due-date adjustment process for qualifying tenants receiving regular monthly governmental assistance.
Washington State LegislatureRCW 59.18.257 — prospective tenant screening; notice; costs; adverse action ↗Current Washington screening rule requiring pre-screening notice, conditioning screening-cost charges on that notice, limiting landlord-performed screening to actual/customary costs, requiring adverse-action notices and addressing comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports.
Washington State LegislatureRCW 59.18.285 — Nonrefundable fees; written rental agreement; remedies ↗Current Washington rule requiring a written rental agreement that clearly identifies a nonrefundable fee, prohibiting nonrefundable money from being designated as a deposit, and directing refundable-deposit treatment when the written agreement does not specify the fee is nonrefundable.
Washington State LegislatureRCW 59.18.260 — written agreement and move-in checklist ↗Primary law requiring a written rental agreement and signed condition checklist before a landlord collects a deposit, and prohibiting withholding for wear from ordinary use.
Washington State LegislatureRCW 59.18.280 — 30-day statement, documentation and refund ↗Primary law for the 30-day statement/refund deadline, invoice and estimate support, carpet-cleaning limits and remedies.