How eviction works step by step, and what defenses you have at each stage
This page covers the eviction process in Washington for a residential tenancy — the notices a landlord must serve, the timeline, and what you can do at each stage.
It does not cover commercial leases, or mobile home parks where a separate statute applies. Where a city has its own rules, those may differ from the state statute below.
RCW 59.12.030 + 59.18 — 驱逐须经 unlawful detainer 法院程序，房东先送达法定通知，再向 Superior/District Court 起诉，仅法院 writ of restitution（由 sheriff 执行）可移除租客。
华盛顿驱逐是司法驱逐（unlawful detainer）。欠租须 14 天 pay-or-vacate（59.12.030）；其他违约 10 天 comply-or-vacate；waste/nuisance/违法活动 3 天。租客搬出通知须 20 天（59.18.200）。
RCW 59.12.030; 59.18 ↗Applies when: 欠租
Counted from: 通知送达后
Service: 书面 14-day pay-or-vacate 通知，须含 RCW 59.18.057 规定的多语言法定格式。
· 59.18.057 规定通知须采用实质法定格式，列明欠租/水电/其他周期费用明细。
· 付款须先冲抵通知所列 total amount due。
· CARES Act 覆盖物业仍需 30 天联邦通知。
RCW 59.12.030(3); 59.18.057 ↗Applies when: 违约（非欠租）
Counted from: 通知送达后
Service: 书面 10-day comply-or-vacate 通知。
· 10 天 comply-or-vacate，给租客机会纠正违约。
RCW 59.12.030 ↗Applies when: waste / nuisance / 违法活动
Counted from: 通知送达后
Service: 书面 3-day notice to quit。
· waste、nuisance 或非法活动可 3 天终止。
RCW 59.12.030 ↗华盛顿禁止自力救济（59.18.290）：房东不得换锁、断水电、搬物；违者承担实际损害 + 最高 $100/天 + 律师费 + 禁令。
59.18.290 明令禁止 lockout；59.18.300 禁止非维修目的断水电。59.18.310 禁止租约授权房东取走租客财产。
RCW 59.18.290 ↗“「欠租了，我换锁断电。」”
华盛顿禁止自力救济（59.18.290），驱逐只能走 unlawful detainer 法院程序。擅自换锁/断电违者可主张实际损害 + 最高 $100/天 + 律师费。
RCW 59.18.290, 59.18.300
“「你投诉了房屋问题，我涨租赶你走。」”
华盛顿 59.18.240 禁止因你投诉法规违规或行使租客权利而报复。投诉后 90 天内涨租、减服务或驱逐，推定报复（59.18.250）。但注意：你须保持租金结清，欠租时推定反而有利于房东。
RCW 59.18.240, 59.18.250
自力救济违者对租客承担实际损害 + 最高 $100/天 + 律师费（59.18.290）。
RCW 59.18.290 ↗Every figure on this page comes from the official text or a state court opinion, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked.
| Statute | Last verified | Source |
|---|---|---|
| RCW 59.12.030; 59.18 | 2026-10-16 | official text ↗ |
| RCW 59.12.030(3); 59.18.057 | 2026-10-16 | official text ↗ |
| RCW 59.12.030 | 2026-10-16 | official text ↗ |
| RCW 59.18.290 | 2026-10-16 | official text ↗ |
Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Where a provision admits of more than one reading, that is flagged rather than smoothed over.
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3 or 10 or 14 days depending on the grounds, counted from service of the notice. RCW 59.12.030; 59.18
华盛顿禁止自力救济（59.18.290）：房东不得换锁、断水电、搬物；违者承担实际损害 + 最高 $100/天 + 律师费 + 禁令。
The timeline starts only on valid service. 书面 14-day pay-or-vacate 通知，须含 RCW 59.18.057 规定的多语言法定格式。