How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Washington?
In Washington, a landlord who screens applicants itself may charge only its actual costs of obtaining the background information — no more than a screening service customarily charges in the area — and only after giving the written notice the statute requires. A violation can cost the landlord up to $100 plus attorney fees and court costs. This is RCW 59.18.257(1).
| What | Washington |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Actual cost, no more than the local screening rate |
Notes
A violation can cost the landlord up to $100 plus attorney fees and court costs.
Source
RCW 59.18.257(1)
Read the statute in the Revised Code of Washington (Washington State Legislature): app.leg.wa.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 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
This page states what the state allows a landlord to charge somebody applying to rent, so a fee can be checked against it before it is advertised or collected.
Guides on this rule
- FCRA Adverse Action Notices: What Landlords Must Tell Applicants — When a screening report leads you to deny an applicant or ask for more, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a notice. What it must say, with the statute.
- Reusable Tenant Screening Reports: When Landlords Must Accept Them — Colorado requires landlords to accept a portable screening report; California, Maryland and Washington set disclosure and fee rules; New York waives the fee.
- Tenant Screening: What Landlords Need to Know — How to screen rental applicants fairly and legally: credit and background checks, consistent criteria, the FCRA’s adverse action notice and fair housing.
Compare this rule in every state
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