Washington Security Deposit Law
What landlords in Washington need to know about deposit limits, refund deadlines, interest, and penalties for getting it wrong.
Deposit cap
No statutory cap
Refund deadline
21 days
Interest required?
No
No statewide interest requirement (Seattle has a separate ordinance).
Separate account?
Not required
Penalty for noncompliance
Bad-faith retention can result in up to twice the deposit plus attorney's fees.
Statute: Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.280
This page summarizes general state-level rules as of 2026 and does not cover city or county ordinances, which can be stricter. Verify against the statute cited above or with a local attorney before relying on it. See all states.