Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.057
Notice -- Form.
Operative Text
(1) Every 14-day notice served pursuant to RCW 59.12.030 (3) must be in substantially the following form: FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR VACATE THE PREMISES You are receiving this notice because the landlord alleges you are not in compliance with the terms of the lease agreement by failing to pay rent and/or utilities and/or recurring or periodic charges that are past due. (1) Monthly rent due for (list month(s)): $ (dollar amount) AND/OR (2) Utilities due for (list month(s)): $ (dollar amount) AND/OR (3) Other recurring or periodic charges identified in the lease for (list month(s)): $ (dollar amount) TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: $ (dollar amount) Note - payment must be made pursuant to the terms of the rental agreement or by nonelectronic means including, but not limited to, cashier's check, money order, or other certified funds. You must pay the total amount due to your landlord within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice or you must vacate the premises. Any payment you make to the landlord must first be applied to the total amount due as shown on this notice. Any failure to comply with this notice within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice may result in a judicial proceeding that leads to your eviction from the premises. The Washington state Office of the Attorney General has this notice in multiple languages as well as information on available resources to help you pay your rent, including state and local rental assistance programs, on its website at www.atg.wa.gov/landlord-tenant. State law provides you the right to legal representation and the court may be able to appoint a lawyer to represent you without cost to you if you are a qualifying low-income renter. If you believe you are a qualifying low-income renter and would like an attorney appointed to represent you, please contact the Eviction Defense Screening Line at 855-657-8387 or apply online at https://nwjustice.org/apply-online. For additional resources, call 2-1-1 or the Northwest Justice Project CLEAR Hotline outside King County (888) 201-1014 weekdays between 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., or (888) 387-7111 for seniors (age 60 and over). You may find additional information to help you at http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org. Free or low-cost mediation services to assist in nonpayment of rent disputes before any judicial proceedings occur are also available at dispute resolution centers throughout the state. You can find your nearest dispute resolution center at https://www.resolutionwa.org. State law also provides you the right to receive interpreter services at court. OWNER/LANDLORD:___________DATE:______________ WHERE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE IS TO BE PAID: ___(owner/landlord name)___ ___________(address)________ "
Washington's Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.010 et seq. § 59.18.057 establishes the required form and content of a 14-day pay-or-vacate notice that landlords must use when a tenant has unpaid rent, utilities, or other recurring charges. The notice must itemize each category of amount owed, state a total due, and include specific information about tenant resources such as rental assistance programs, free legal representation options, and mediation services. A notice that does not substantially follow this prescribed form may not satisfy the legal requirements for initiating an eviction proceeding under RCW 59.12.030(3).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.057, compliant operators use the statutory form—or one that substantially mirrors it—when serving a 14-day pay-or-vacate notice, ensuring that rent, utilities, and other periodic charges are each separately itemized with a clear total. The notice must specify where and how payment is to be made, including acceptable nonelectronic payment methods such as cashier's check or money order. Operators also include all required resource disclosures, such as the Attorney General's website, the Eviction Defense Screening Line, and dispute resolution center information, as these are part of the mandated form.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.057 gives tenants the right to receive a 14-day notice that follows a specific statutory form, which must clearly list every charge being claimed and provide information about free or low-cost legal help, rental assistance, and mediation services. If a notice you receive does not substantially match this required form—for example, if it omits itemized charges or required resource disclosures—that deficiency may be relevant in any subsequent eviction proceeding. Tenants who receive such a notice can explore options including contacting the Eviction Defense Screening Line at 855-657-8387, reaching out to the Northwest Justice Project CLEAR Hotline, calling 2-1-1, or connecting with a local dispute resolution center to learn about available paths forward.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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