Quick Answer
Under RCW 59.18.200, a tenant on a month-to-month or other periodic tenancy ends it by giving the landlord written notice of 20 days or more before the end of the rental period. Landlords have longer periods for specific changes: 90 days’ written notice before a tenancy ends when the landlord adopts a no-children policy, and 120 days for condominium conversion or for demolition, substantial rehabilitation or change of use. The page for this section shows a current version and one effective January 1, 2028. Statute text last checked October 22, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Twenty days is the tenant’s notice for a periodic tenancy.
- 90 days for a landlord changing to a no-children policy.
- 120 days for condominium conversion, demolition, substantial rehabilitation or change of use.
- Military exception. Shorter notice with qualifying orders.
- Check just cause. Separate rules limit when a landlord may end a tenancy.
1. The Tenant’s 20-Day Notice
A tenant who rents for an indefinite term with periodic rent ends the tenancy with written notice of 20 days or more before the end of the rental period. Record the date you receive it and confirm the move-out date in writing, which also starts your deposit schedule.
2. Military Service
Service members, including National Guard and reserve members, and their spouses or dependents, can end a rental agreement on shorter notice if they receive permanent change-of-station or deployment orders that do not allow 20 days.
3. Landlord Changes With Longer Notice
The statute sets 90 days for a change to a no-children policy and 120 days for condominium conversion or demolition, substantial rehabilitation or change of use. Where a local relocation program already provides 120 days, the statute does not add a second period.
4. If a Plan Is Delayed
If a planned change such as a children policy or conversion is delayed after notice, the standard 20-day rule applies unless the tenant agrees otherwise. Keep your timeline in writing.
5. Just Cause and Local Rules
Washington has separate just-cause rules for landlord-initiated terminations, and cities have their own rules. Read them with an attorney before ending a tenancy.
6. A Checklist
- Identify the tenancy type from the lease.
- Record the date of any tenant notice.
- Confirm the move-out date in writing.
- For landlord changes, use the 90- or 120-day period.
- Check just-cause and local rules before any landlord notice.
7. What This Guide Does Not Cover
This guide covers the notice periods in RCW 59.18.200. It does not cover just-cause termination, nonpayment notices, or local relocation programs. It states the statute and does not predict how a court will rule.
8. Questions Owners Ask
Is 20 days the landlord’s notice too? No. The 20 days is the tenant’s notice. Landlord terminations follow separate rules.
Can the tenant give less notice? Only in situations the statute lists, such as qualifying military orders.
What if the 2028 version differs? The page shows a version effective January 1, 2028 with updated cross-references; watch for the change.