Uncontested: 30–60 days ·
Contested: 60–150 days · Under RCW § 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act)
The Washington eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
Same day
1
Stage 1 · Gate
Confirm just-cause coverage
Day 1
Tenancy of 6+ months requires a just-cause ground under RCW 59.18.650. Under 6 months, 20-day no-cause notice still works.
3–20d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
Serve the statutory notice
Day 1
14-day pay-or-vacate (most common), 10-day comply-or-vacate, 3-day for waste/nuisance, 20-day no-cause for under-6-month tenancies, 90-day no-fault. Must use the statutory form.
1–3d
3
Stage 3 · File
File the unlawful-detainer complaint
Day 21
Superior Court for the county. Filing fee $240 to $320. No district or magistrate court route in Washington.
7–14d
4
Stage 4 · Court
Service of summons; 7-day answer
Day 24
Personal service preferred. Tenant has 7 days to answer (14 if served by alternative method). Default judgment if no answer.
7–14d
5
Stage 5 · Court
Show-cause hearing
Day 38
Hearing on the papers within 7 to 14 days of answer. Court determines whether to issue a writ of restitution or set a trial date.
3–5d
6
Stage 6 · Lockout
Writ of restitution and lockout
Day 52
Sheriff serves the writ with 3 to 5 days for the tenant to vacate. After that window, the sheriff executes the lockout.
Day 57
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 57
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The Washington timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Washington and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
About this page. Researched and written by the NextGen Properties research team — the underwriters, asset managers, and acquisitions staff who have priced, bought, and operated rental property for more than two decades. Reviewed before publication by the NextGen Properties editorial desk. How we work: editorial guidelines · scoring methodology.
