How long does a homeowner have to cancel a home improvement contract in Washington?
In Washington, a buyer who signs a retail installment contract or charge agreement for goods or services solicited in person, or by commercial telephone solicitation, away from the seller’s address may cancel by certified mail, return receipt requested, posted no later than midnight of the third day after signing, not counting Sundays and holidays. A retail installment contract solicited in person and signed away from the seller’s business address must carry, directly above the buyer’s signature in ten-point bold type or larger, a notice that the buyer may cancel by certified mail posted no later than midnight of the third day, excluding Sundays and holidays, after signing. After a cancellation, the seller must, without being asked, refund all deposits including any down payment within ten days and return any goods traded in, less reasonable costs actually incurred in making them ready for sale. The buyer must return or make available any goods received, in their original condition, at the place of delivery, and incurs no additional liability for canceling. The section does not apply to motor vehicle purchases, and it contains no emergency-repair waiver. The federal cooling-off rule separately gives three business days to cancel many sales made at the buyer’s home. This is RCW 63.14.010, 63.14.040, 63.14.154.
| What | Washington |
|---|---|
| Right to cancel | 3 days after signing, for sales on installment credit |
What the statute says
“… by certified mail, return receipt requested, which shall be posted not later than midnight of the third day (excluding Sundays and holidays) following the date the buyer signs the contract or charge agreement …”
Quoted word for word from the section’s text.
Source
RCW 63.14.010, 63.14.040, 63.14.154
Read the statute in the Revised Code of Washington (Washington State Legislature): app.leg.wa.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 15, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
An estimate on Seayora carries its own terms and contract text, and the customer’s approval is recorded with its date, so the day a cancellation period starts is on file for both the contractor and the homeowner.
Guides on this rule
- Right to Cancel a Home Improvement Contract by State — How long a homeowner has to cancel a home improvement contract, with the rule in each of the 51 jurisdictions whose statute gives the right.
Compare this rule in every state
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