Below are links to the most common commercial eviction notice forms. For non-payment of rent serve the Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate. For failure to pay charges that are not periodic recurring obligations or for nonmonetary breaches of the rental agreement, use the Notice to Comply or Vacate. To end a month-to-month tenancy, use the Notice to Terminate Tenancy.
The choice and manner of using eviction notice forms are vital to a successful eviction. It is best to consult an attorney before acting. Per a new law enacted in 2025, all notices must have a date certain for the compliance deadline.
The notice must be served in a manner required by law. Email, for example, is not proper service. The notice may be served in one of three ways.
- personal service into the hands of each tenant;
- service on someone of suitable age and discretion plus mailing a copy to each tenant;
- if no one is available to serve personally, posting conspicuously and also mailing a copy to each tenant;
- For a tenant that is a corporation or LLC, by personal service into the hands of an officer, agent, or person having charge of the business plus mailing a copy to the rental property addressed to the business entity; or if no such person can be found, posting conspicuously and mailing.
Mailing alone is not proper legal service, but it is sometimes required for proper service in combination with other methods, as noted above. When mailing is required, send by certified mail from Washington state.
The lease may contractually require additional service methods and/or a longer cure period. The legal requirements of time and manner cannot be waived, however.
Proper service of the correct eviction notice form is the first step in the process. After the notice period, if the tenant does not cure and remains in possession, the landlord must start the formal eviction process with an unlawful detainer action. See our page regarding the commerical eviction process, or contact our office.