Spokane, WA Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Spokane, WA, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- State Law
- RCW 59.18.650 (HB 1236, 2021)
- Just Causes
- 16 enumerated grounds
- Owner Move-In Notice
- 90 days written
- Rehabilitation Notice
- 120 days
- Local Code
- SMC Chapter 10.57
Summary
Spokane landlords must comply with Washington HB 1236 (2021), which requires just cause to terminate any residential tenancy. Sixteen enumerated reasons include nonpayment, lease violations, owner move-in, and substantial renovation, each with specific notice periods.
(1)(a) A landlord may not evict a tenant, refuse to continue a tenancy, or end a periodic tenancy except for the causes enumerated in subsection (2) of this section and as otherwise provided in this subsection.
(b) If a landlord and tenant enter into a rental agreement that provides for the tenancy to continue for an indefinite period on a month-to-month or periodic basis after the agreement expires, the landlord may not end the tenancy except for the causes enumerated in subsection (2) of this section; however, a landlord may end such a tenancy at the end of the initial period of the rental agreement without cause only if:
(i) At the inception of the tenancy, the landlord and tenant entered into a rental agreement between six and 12 months; and
(ii) The landlord has provided the tenant before the end of the initial lease period at least 60 days' advance written notice ending the tenancy, served in a manner consistent with RCW 59.12.040 .
(c) If a landlord and tenant enter into a rental agreement for a specified period in which the tenancy by the terms of the rental agreement does not continue for an indefinite period on a month-to-month or periodic basis after the end of the specified period, the landlord may end such a tenancy without cause upon expiration of the specified period only if:
(i) At the inception of the tenancy, the landlord and tenant entered into a rental agreement of 12 months or more for a specified period, or the landlord and tenant have continuously and without interruption entered into successive rental agreements of six months or more for a specified period since the inception of the tenancy;
(ii) The landlord has provided the tenant before the end of the specified period at least 60 days' advance written notice that the tenancy will be deemed expired at the end of such specified period, served in a manner consistent with RCW 59.12.040 .
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Spokane tenants are protected statewide by RCW 59.18.650, enacted by HB 1236 in 2021. A landlord may not end a month-to-month or fixed-term tenancy without one of the sixteen statutory just causes. Common grounds include nonpayment of rent with a 14-day pay-or-vacate notice, material lease violations with a 10-day cure notice, criminal activity on premises, owner or family member intending to occupy the unit with at least 90 days notice, sale of the single-family home with 90 days notice, and substantial rehabilitation requiring displacement with 120 days notice. For no-fault terminations tied to sale, owner move-in, or demolition, the landlord must provide written notice citing the specific statutory subsection. Retaliatory or discriminatory terminations are prohibited under RCW 59.18.240 and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Spokane Municipal Code Chapter 10.57 supplements state law with source-of-income protections. Failure to provide a valid just-cause notice is a complete defense in unlawful detainer court.
Violations & Fines
Improper notice voids the eviction. Tenants can recover attorney fees, actual damages, and up to three months rent in wrongful eviction suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Spokane landlord end my month-to-month lease for no reason?
How much notice for owner move-in?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane
Compare Spokane to another location·View the Washington rental property rules overview
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