Washington security deposit return deadline calculator.
Enter the deposit amount and move-out date. Get the exact Washington return deadline, any itemization or interest requirements, and a warning if a penalty could apply. Built from RCW 59.18.280.
Generate the Washington move-out checklist, signature-ready, $29.
The calculator above gave you the deadline. The template below puts it on a Washington-specific move-out checklist with the itemization fields, deduction categories, and statutory return-deadline language. Audited line by line against RCW 59.18.280.
Get the Washingtonmove-out checklist, $29 →How Washington handles the deposit return.
Washington requires return of the deposit within 30 days of move-out, or a written statement explaining any retention. No written statement within 30 days means the landlord owes the full deposit. Bad-faith withholding can cost 2x the deposit plus attorney fees.
- ·Move-in checklist required at the start of tenancy
- ·Written full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any part of the deposit required within 30 days
- ·If no statement given within 30 days, landlord owes the full deposit
What happens if the deposit is not returned on time.
Up to 2x the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney fees under RCW 59.18.280(2).
This calculator applies Washington deposit rules as of early 2026 from RCW 59.18.280. It is not legal advice. Local ordinances (especially in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco) may add stricter requirements. For contested cases, consult a Washington-licensed attorney.