Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Washington?
No. A landlord who locks out, removes property or cuts utilities is liable for up to $100 per day plus costs and attorney fees. RCW 59.18.290, 59.18.300. In Washington a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by RCW 59.18.057, 59.18.650, 59.12.030, 59.18.365, 59.18.290; RCW 59.18.630 (eviction resolution).
| What | Washington |
|---|---|
| Changing the locks, cutting a utility or removing belongings | Unlawful |
| Who may remove a tenant | Only a court officer acting on a court order |
Notes
Washington mandates the FORM of the 14-day pay-or-vacate notice, including a resource list in several languages. A notice that is not in the statutory form is void.
Source
RCW 59.18.057, 59.18.650, 59.12.030, 59.18.365, 59.18.290; RCW 59.18.630 (eviction resolution) — last checked 2026-09-16.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
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The same question in other states
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