Is there a grace period for paying rent in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, a landlord may not charge a late fee for rent paid within five days of its due date. Once the rent is more than five days late, late fees may run from the first day after the due date. The statute sets no maximum. This is RCW 59.18.170.

WhatWashington
No late fee before5 days
Who it protectsEvery residential tenancy

Notes

Once the rent is more than five days late, late fees may run from the first day after the due date. The statute sets no maximum.

Source

RCW 59.18.170 — last checked 2026-09-16.

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

Seayora charges only the late fee written into the lease, after the grace period the lease sets, and adds no late fee of its own. This page states the statutory ceiling and waiting period so the terms of a lease can be checked against them before it is signed.

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