Since 2021, Washington's just-cause statute RCW 59.18.650 prohibits no-fault evictions of month-to-month tenants. Landlords in King County must cite one of sixteen enumerated causes such as nonpayment, lease violation, owner move-in, or substantial rehabilitation.
Washington passed statewide just-cause protection in 2021 (HB 1236), eliminating the prior practice of terminating a month-to-month tenancy with 20 days notice and no reason. Under RCW 59.18.650, landlords across King County must serve cause-specific notices: 14 days for nonpayment, 10 days for lease compliance issues, and 90 days with relocation assistance for owner move-in or substantial rehabilitation. Seattle's older Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (SMC 22.206.160) still applies in parallel and adds further procedural steps. End-of-fixed-term evictions also require cause; landlords cannot simply refuse to renew at lease end without one of the statutory grounds.
Serving an unsupported no-cause notice or refusing to renew a fixed-term lease without statutory cause exposes the landlord to dismissal of any unlawful detainer action, statutory damages, and attorney fees under RCW 59.18.650(8).
King County, WA
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See how King County's no-fault evictions rules stack up against other locations.
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