Washington security deposit rules.
The Washington rules for residential security deposits in plain English: how much can be charged, how fast it comes back, whether interest is owed, and what catches operators out.
Last reviewed · Statute: Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.260 to .290 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
No statewide cap. Seattle and a few other cities have local caps.
When it has to come back
30 days from termination and receipt of forwarding address, with itemised deductions.
Interest
No interest is required.
Where the money has to sit
Deposits must be held in a separate trust account at a Washington-located institution; the bank must be disclosed in writing.
What catches operators out
- Pre-move-in checklist is a strict prerequisite for deposit collection.
- Seattle adds local caps and tenant-protection ordinances.
What this looks like with Standby in Washington.
When a resident takes a Standby certificate there is no cash deposit to hold, so the cap, the return deadline and the interest rules above have nothing to attach to. You are covered up to the full deposit and draw on it when you need to.
When a resident pays cash instead, Standby handles that deposit under your lease and Washington law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Washington. Furnished units, senior leases, mobile-home tenancies and short-term rentals can differ, and city ordinances may override the state default. Check the statute before relying on a figure for a specific lease.