Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.625

Late fees, charges for nonpayment of rent due between March 1, 2020, and six months after eviction moratorium expiration -- Violations -- Penalties.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/25/2026
effective 10/7/2026WashingtonLate Fees

Operative Text

Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.625
(1) A landlord may not charge or impose any late fees or other charges against any tenant for the nonpayment of rent that became due between March 1, 2020, and six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium.
(2) For rent that accrued between March 1, 2020, and the six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium expiration date:
(a) A landlord may not report to a prospective landlord:
(i) A tenant's nonpayment of rent that accrued between March 1, 2020, and the six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium; or
(ii) An unlawful detainer action pursuant to RCW 59.12.030 (3) that resulted from a tenant's nonpayment of rent between March 1, 2020, and the six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium.
(b) A prospective landlord may not take an adverse action based on a prospective tenant's nonpayment of rent that occurred between March 1, 2020, and the six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium.
(3)(a) A landlord or prospective landlord may not deny, discourage application for, or otherwise make unavailable any rental dwelling unit based on a tenant's or prospective tenant's medical history including, but not limited to, the tenant's or prospective tenant's prior or current exposure or infection to the COVID-19 virus.
(b) A landlord or prospective landlord may not inquire about, consider, or require disclosure of a tenant's or prospective tenant's medical records or history, unless such disclosure is necessary to evaluate a reasonable accommodation request or reasonable modification request under RCW 49.60.222 .
(4) A landlord or prospective landlord in violation of this section is liable in a civil action for up to two and one-half times the monthly rent of the real property at issue, as well as court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. A court must impose this penalty in an amount necessary to deter future violations, payable to the tenant bringing the action.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.625 establishes several protections tied to the COVID-19 eviction moratorium period. Landlords are barred from charging late fees or other penalties on rent that went unpaid between March 1, 2020, and six months after the moratorium expired. The law also prohibits landlords and prospective landlords from using that unpaid rent—or any related eviction filing—against a tenant in rental applications, and from making housing decisions based on a person's COVID-19 medical history or records.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 7, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 59.18.625, compliant operators do not assess late fees or similar charges on rent that fell due during the protected moratorium window. They also refrain from sharing a tenant's moratorium-period nonpayment with prospective landlords or taking adverse action on that basis when screening applicants. Operators likewise avoid asking about or considering any applicant's COVID-19 exposure or medical history except when evaluating a documented accommodation request under RCW 49.60.222.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

§ 59.18.625 gives tenants the right to be free from late fees on rent owed during the protected period and from having that nonpayment used against them in future rental applications. If a landlord or prospective landlord violates these protections, the law allows a tenant to bring a civil action seeking up to two and one-half times the monthly rent, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. Tenants who believe their rights under this section have been violated may consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand available options.

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 7, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 504B.177
LATE FEES.
§ 90.260
Late rent payment charge or fee; restrictions; calculation.
§ 118A.210
Payment of rent; term of tenancy; late fee.

Source Information

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