Washington Residential Eviction Notice Forms
Landlord-tenant law has dramatically changed and is far more complex than in the past. Local and federal laws may apply to your rental property and require additional language and/or add additional requirements to the service of notices. You must comply with all state and local laws (and sometimes federal laws).
Many local jurisdictions have placed further restrictions and/or require additional mandatory language. These jurisdictions include, among others, Burien, Federal Way, Seattle, and unincorporated King County. This website does not provide eviction notice forms for all Washington cities and counties.
We encourage landlords to allow our office to serve initial notices.
General Washington Eviction Forms
These forms comply with state law but may not comply with local laws where your rental property is located.
Note: Washington law requires specificity on all notices, including names, dates, and circumstances. Without sufficient specificity, an eviction case may fail in court. Consult with a landlord-tenant attorney if unsure.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Examples: intent to sell, intent to occupy)
Use the Notice to Terminate Tenancy for ending the tenancy at the end of a lease term, intent to sell, intent to occupy, as well as other situations as explained in the instructions. Note there is no longer such a thing as a “20-day” notice to end a tenancy for no cause.
Local laws may impose additional restrictions and requirements.
Use this form for material breaches of the rental agreement other than nonpayment.
Federal Way Eviction Notices
Federal Way has a local just cause eviction law and requires specific additional language on all unlawful detainer notices. Consult with an attorney before serving a notice.
Federal Way 14-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate
Auburn Eviction Notices
Auburn has a local just cause eviction ordinance that must be complied with in addition to the state just cause eviction law.
Auburn requires a resources page to be served with an unlawful detainer notice. In some situations, the notice must also be filed with the City.
Consult with an attorney for advice about your circumstances.
Burien Eviction Notices
Burien has a local just cause eviction ordinance that must be complied with in addition to the state just cause eviction law. Consult with an attorney for advice about your cirscumstances.
Seattle Residential Eviction Notices
Seattle requires additional mandatory language on all eviction notices, notices to enter, and notices of rent increases. Do not use the generic Washington state forms in Seattle. These forms may not be valid in court in Seattle (and in some other local jurisdictions).
There is a winter eviction ban and a school-year eviction ban in Seattle, and a myriad of other legal requirements. Seattle residential tenants have protections from eviction for nonpayment that extend well beyond the end of the eviction moratorium.
Seattle residential landlords are encouraged to seek legal advice before proceeding. We, therefore, do not post Seattle forms. Use of the forms on this website for Seattle is not legally proper.
Tacoma Residential Eviction Notices
Tacoma law requires a resources document be served with all unlawful detainer notices. (This is different and in addition to the resources documents served to applicants and existing tenants.) Arguably the information in the currently required resources document conflicts with new state and federal laws. Tacoma residential landlords are strongly encourage to seek legal advice before acting.
Unincorporated King County Eviction Notices
Unincorporated King County has mandatory notice forms. Landlords with rental properties in unincorporated King County must use the mandatory King County forms as required by the local just cause eviction law.
The King County forms seem to conflict with state law in some respects and are often confusing.
The notice of intent to sell is apparently inconsistent with state law, for example. Under Washington case law, a landlord may not accept an offer from a buyer and also enforce an eviction based on intent to sell. Nevertheless, in unincorporated King County, a landlord must list the property for sale before serving the notice of intent to sell.
The mandatory King County forms are currently posted on the King County website. But, landlords are strongly encouraged to consult with an attorney before serving a notice for rental properties in unincorporated King County.