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Rental Application Fee Laws in Washington

Washington lets a landlord charge only the actual cost of tenant screening, no more than the customary local screening charge, after giving written notice, and requires the landlord to state whether it accepts a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Washington at a glance

Fee limit
Actual screening cost
Self-screening charges may not exceed the customary costs of a screening service in the area. No charge unless notice is given first.
Refund required
No refund rule
Portable screening report rule
Yes, landlord must say if it accepts one
If the landlord accepts reusable reports, it may run its own report but may not charge the applicant for it.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Washington

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Washington?

Fee limit in Washington: Actual screening cost. Self-screening charges may not exceed the customary costs of a screening service in the area. No charge unless notice is given first.

Does a landlord in Washington have to refund an unused application fee?

No refund rule. Refund required in Washington: no refund rule.

Does Washington law address reusable (portable) tenant screening reports?

Yes, landlord must say if it accepts one. Portable screening report rule in Washington: yes, landlord must say if it accepts one. If the landlord accepts reusable reports, it may run its own report but may not charge the applicant for it.

Where do the Washington rental application fee laws come from?

The rules above come from RCW 59.18.257. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A landlord who violates the notice rules is liable to the applicant for up to $100 plus court costs and attorneys' fees (RCW 59.18.257(3)).

What this means in practice

Before collecting a fee, landlords can tell applicants in writing how much it is, what it pays for, and the screening criteria that will be used. Several statutes require some of this disclosure, and it also reduces disputes when an application is denied.

Keep a copy of the invoice or receipt from the screening company. Where the law ties the fee to actual cost or requires an itemized receipt, that record shows the fee was lawful.

Check local law as well as state law. In many states a city or county ordinance can set a lower limit or add refund and notice rules, and the stricter rule usually applies. A few states bar local rules on application fees.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.