Deadlines & Notice Periods in Seattle
Key timelines for tenant actions under WA law and Seattle local ordinances. Missing a deadline can forfeit your rights — verify dates with a local attorney.
Jurisdictional stack
- municipal Seattle — viewing
- state Washington
- federal United States
Deadlines for Seattle include the layers above. The federal layer (FHA, § 504, VAWA, SCRA) carries its own filing deadlines (typically 1 year for HUD complaints; 2 years for FHA private actions); the state layer governs landlord-tenant timelines like deposit returns and notice-to-cure periods.
Habitability RCW 59.18.060
| Action / Event | Timeline | Authority | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA requires reasonable cure period (typically 10-14 days, longer for major repairs) | 14 days | RCW 59.18.060 | Prerequisite for filing |
Repair Maintenance RCW 59.18.100
| Action / Event | Timeline | Authority | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA requires 10-day notice (24-hour for hot water/heat/safety hazards) | 10 days | RCW 59.18.100 | Prerequisite for filing |
Security Deposit RCW 59.18.280
| Action / Event | Timeline | Authority | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landlord must return security deposit | 30 days after tenancy ends | RCW 59.18.280 |