Squatters' Rights in Washington
Washington rules on squatters & abandoned property for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: An owner or authorized agent may give police a signed 'Request to Remove Trespasser(s)' declaration under penalty of perjury (statutory form) stating, among other things, that the occupants entered and remain unlawfully, are not and within the last 12 months have not been tenants or… RCW 9A.52.105; RCW 9A.52.115
The rules in Washington
| Squatters / unauthorized occupants | An owner or authorized agent may give police a signed 'Request to Remove Trespasser(s)' declaration under penalty of perjury (statutory form) stating, among other things, that the occupants entered and remain unlawfully, are not and within the last 12 months have not been tenants or owners on title, were told to leave and refused, and that the premises were not abandoned or open to the public when they entered. A peace officer with probable cause of criminal trespass may then remove the persons (with or without arrest) and order them to stay off, but must first give occupants a reasonable opportunity to present credible evidence that they are tenants, legal occupants or their guests. The declarant can be sued for false statements (actual damages, costs, attorney's fees) and false swearing is a gross misdemeanor. Officers may not remove anyone entitled to occupy under a rental agreement; tenants require an unlawful detainer case. Enacted 2017 c 284. The declarant must also acknowledge the RCW 59.18.230 and 59.18.290 bans on self-help and agree to indemnify law enforcement. Source: RCW 9A.52.105; RCW 9A.52.115 |
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| Belongings left behind | If the tenant defaults in rent and indicates by words or actions an intent not to return, the landlord may take possession of the tenant's property and store it securely, and must make reasonable efforts (first-class mail to the last known and any other known address) to notify the tenant of where it is stored, the planned sale/disposal date, and the right to reclaim it on payment of the lesser of actual or reasonable moving and storage costs. Sale or disposal may occur 45 days after the notice is mailed or delivered (7 days if the total value is $250 or less, except personal papers, family pictures and keepsakes). Excess sale proceeds are held for the tenant for one year. Separate rules apply to a deceased sole tenant's property (two notices; sale/disposal at least 45 days after the second notice) and to property removed under a writ of restitution. Deceased-tenant procedure: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.595. RCW 59.18.312 (writ of restitution storage and sale) was not separately reviewed. |
Related questions
Washington vs. neighboring states
| State | Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Belongings left behind |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | An owner or authorized agent may give police a signed 'Request to Remove Trespasser(s)' declaration under penalty of perjury (statutory form) stating, among other things, that the occupants entered and remain unlawfully, are not and within the last 12 months have not been tenants or owners on title, were told to leave and refused, and that the premises were not abandoned or open to the public when they entered. A peace officer with probable cause of criminal trespass may then remove the persons (with or without arrest) and order them to stay off, but must first give occupants a reasonable opportunity to present credible evidence that they are tenants, legal occupants or their guests. The declarant can be sued for false statements (actual damages, costs, attorney's fees) and false swearing is a gross misdemeanor. Officers may not remove anyone entitled to occupy under a rental agreement; tenants require an unlawful detainer case. RCW 9A.52.105; RCW 9A.52.115 | If the tenant defaults in rent and indicates by words or actions an intent not to return, the landlord may take possession of the tenant's property and store it securely, and must make reasonable efforts (first-class mail to the last known and any other known address) to notify the tenant of where it is stored, the planned sale/disposal date, and the right to reclaim it on payment of the lesser of actual or reasonable moving and storage costs. Sale or disposal may occur 45 days after the notice is mailed or delivered (7 days if the total value is $250 or less, except personal papers, family pictures and keepsakes). Excess sale proceeds are held for the tenant for one year. Separate rules apply to a deceased sole tenant's property (two notices; sale/disposal at least 45 days after the second notice) and to property removed under a writ of restitution. RCW 59.18.310; RCW 59.18.595; RCW 59.18.312 |
| Idaho | Sheriff removal without a lawsuit. A property owner (or authorized agent) may give the county sheriff a verified 'Complaint to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Residential Real Property' (statutory form, under penalty of perjury, with government ID or proof of agency) if: the occupants entered unlawfully and remain; the property was not open to the public; the owner told them to leave; they are not current or former tenants under an owner-authorized lease; they are not immediate family; and no related litigation is pending. After verifying ownership, the sheriff serves a notice to immediately vacate (hand delivery or posting on the front door), puts the owner in possession, and may arrest for trespass or other crimes. Sheriff charges the writ-of-restitution service fee, plus an hourly stand-by fee if requested while locks are changed and belongings moved to the property line. A person wrongfully removed may sue for restoration of possession, actual damages, triple the fair market rent, costs and attorney's fees. Idaho Code § 6-310A | After a judgment for possession, a residential tenant has 72 hours to remove belongings (7 days for commercial tenants or tracts of 5+ acres). After that period and 3 days after the court's finding, the sheriff restores possession by removing the tenant, and the landlord may remove and dispose of all remaining property (including vehicles removable under § 49-1806), subject to security interests, without compensation to the tenant. The 3-day nonpayment notice must warn the tenant of this removal period. Idaho Code §§ 6-316(2), 6-303(2) |
| Oregon | A 'squatter' is a person occupying a dwelling (or other property used for dwelling) who is not entitled under a rental agreement or authorized by the tenant; a tenant holding over is not a squatter. The owner or landlord may give the squatter 24 hours' written notice stating the date and time to vacate and that the cause is the person's status as a squatter, then take possession through the forcible entry and detainer (FED) court process (ORS 105.100-105.168). The notice does not create a tenancy. No statute authorizes police removal without a court judgment. ORS 91.140 (2025 c.356); ORS 90.100(47); ORS 105.115(1)(h) | Before storing, selling or disposing of abandoned property the landlord must give written notice by personal delivery or first-class mail (to the premises, any known P.O. box and any forwarding address) stating the property is considered abandoned, where it is stored, and a date to contact the landlord: not less than 5 days after personal delivery or 8 days after mailing (45 days for manufactured dwellings/floating homes). Landlord must store goods with reasonable care and may charge reasonable storage costs (not after a sheriff's restitution). If the tenant responds, landlord must make the property available for 15 days (30 for dwellings/homes). If unclaimed, property is conclusively presumed abandoned and may be sold at public or private sale or, if low value, disposed of. ORS 90.425 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Squatters' Rights in Washington FAQ
How do you remove a squatter in Washington?
An owner or authorized agent may give police a signed 'Request to Remove Trespasser(s)' declaration under penalty of perjury (statutory form) stating, among other things, that the occupants entered and remain unlawfully, are not and within the last 12 months have not been tenants or owners on title, were told to leave and refused, and that the premises were not abandoned or open to the public when they entered. A peace officer with probable cause of criminal trespass may then remove the persons (with or without arrest) and order them to stay off, but must first give occupants a reasonable opportunity to present credible evidence that they are tenants, legal occupants or their guests. The declarant can be sued for false statements (actual damages, costs, attorney's fees) and false swearing is a gross misdemeanor. Officers may not remove anyone entitled to occupy under a rental agreement; tenants require an unlawful detainer case. (RCW 9A.52.105; RCW 9A.52.115)
What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Washington?
If the tenant defaults in rent and indicates by words or actions an intent not to return, the landlord may take possession of the tenant's property and store it securely, and must make reasonable efforts (first-class mail to the last known and any other known address) to notify the tenant of where it is stored, the planned sale/disposal date, and the right to reclaim it on payment of the lesser of actual or reasonable moving and storage costs. Sale or disposal may occur 45 days after the notice is mailed or delivered (7 days if the total value is $250 or less, except personal papers, family pictures and keepsakes). Excess sale proceeds are held for the tenant for one year. Separate rules apply to a deceased sole tenant's property (two notices; sale/disposal at least 45 days after the second notice) and to property removed under a writ of restitution. (RCW 59.18.310; RCW 59.18.595; RCW 59.18.312)
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.