Washington Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Washington rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Statewide rent stabilization (HB 1217, 2025 c 209, effective May 7, 2025): no rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and increases in any 12-month period capped at 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less. RCW 59.18.700; RCW 59.18.710; RCW 59.18.140(3); 2025 c 209
The rules in Washington
| Rent control / increase limits | Statewide rent stabilization (HB 1217, 2025 c 209, effective May 7, 2025): no rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and increases in any 12-month period capped at 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less. Commerce-published maximum: 9.683% for calendar 2026 and 10% for calendar 2027. 90 days' written notice of any increase required. Manufactured/mobile home lots: 5% cap. Exemptions (RCW 59.18.710) include buildings whose first certificate of occupancy was issued 12 or fewer years before the increase notice, certain public/nonprofit and tax-credit housing, and some owner-occupied single-family homes/ADUs and owner-occupied duplex-fourplexes (not if owned by a REIT, corporation, or LLC with a corporate member). Remedies: excess rent plus up to three months of unlawful rent, fees; AG civil penalties up to $7,500 per violation. Tenant may terminate on 20 days' notice before an unlawful increase takes effect. Lease-type parity: no more than 5% rent difference between month-to-month and term leases. Expires July 1, 2040. Local rent control still preempted by RCW 35.21.830 (cities/towns). 2026/2027 figures from Commerce HB 1217 Landlord Resource Center (https://www.commerce.wa.gov/housing-policy/hb1217-landlord-resource-center/). |
|---|---|
| Late fees | No statutory dollar or percentage cap for RCW 59.18 rentals. No late fee may be charged for rent paid within five days of the due date. Tenants whose primary income is government assistance may request a due date up to five days later (RCW 59.18.170(3)). HB 1217 (2025) added late-fee caps (2%/3%/5% of monthly rent) only for manufactured/mobile home lots (RCW 59.20.060), not for RCW 59.18 rentals. Source: RCW 59.18.170(2) |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Washington vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Statewide rent stabilization (HB 1217, 2025 c 209, effective May 7, 2025): no rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and increases in any 12-month period capped at 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less. Commerce-published maximum: 9.683% for calendar 2026 and 10% for calendar 2027. 90 days' written notice of any increase required. Manufactured/mobile home lots: 5% cap. RCW 59.18.700; RCW 59.18.710; RCW 59.18.140(3); 2025 c 209 | No statutory dollar or percentage cap for RCW 59.18 rentals. No late fee may be charged for rent paid within five days of the due date. RCW 59.18.170(2) |
| Idaho | Local rent control is preempted. Cities, counties and other local governments may not adopt or enforce laws that set the rent, fees or deposits owners may charge on private residential property, or compel owners to participate in optional federal housing assistance programs. No statewide cap. Idaho Code § 55-306 | No numeric cap or grace period. All fees, including late fees, must be reasonable and may not exceed the amount stated in the rental agreement; a fee not in a written agreement can be added only with 30 days' written notice. Idaho Code § 55-305 |
| Oregon | Statewide rent stabilization. After the first year, no more than one increase per 12 months, with at least 90 days' written notice; increase capped at the lesser of 10% or 7% + CPI (West Region CPI-U), published annually by DAS/Office of Economic Analysis. Max increase: 10.0% for 2025; 9.5% for 2026; 10% for 2027. Exempt: buildings whose first certificate of occupancy was issued less than 15 years before the notice date, and certain regulated affordable housing. Local rent control is otherwise preempted. ORS 90.323; ORS 90.324; ORS 91.225 | Allowed only if a written rental agreement provides for it and rent is not received by the 4th day of the rental period (fees begin on day 5). Cap: either (a) a reasonable flat fee once per period (customary amount in the market), (b) a reasonable daily fee not exceeding 6% of that flat amount, or (c) 5% of the periodic rent for each succeeding 5-day period. ORS 90.260 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Washington Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Washington?
Statewide rent stabilization (HB 1217, 2025 c 209, effective May 7, 2025): no rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and increases in any 12-month period capped at 7% + CPI or 10%, whichever is less. Commerce-published maximum: 9.683% for calendar 2026 and 10% for calendar 2027. 90 days' written notice of any increase required. Manufactured/mobile home lots: 5% cap. (RCW 59.18.700; RCW 59.18.710; RCW 59.18.140(3); 2025 c 209)
Is there a limit on late fees in Washington?
No statutory dollar or percentage cap for RCW 59.18 rentals. No late fee may be charged for rent paid within five days of the due date. (RCW 59.18.170(2))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.