⚡ Washington Quick Facts
Your Rights as a Washington Tenant with a Pet
Washington allows landlords to charge pet deposits separately from security deposits with no cap on either. Seattle has its own Fair Chance Housing ordinance. ESA owners retain full federal protections, and Washington's Human Rights Commission actively enforces them.
What Washington Law Actually Says
Washington's landlord-tenant law is governed by RCW 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act). The state allows landlords to charge pet deposits completely separately from security deposits, and neither has a state-imposed cap — landlords can theoretically charge very high amounts for conventional pet deposits.
However, pet deposits must be designated as either refundable or non-refundable in the lease. All refundable deposits must be returned within 21 days after tenancy ends with an itemized statement.
Seattle has particularly strong tenant protections, including the Fair Chance Housing Ordinance and rules around first-in-time tenant selection. Seattle landlords face additional accountability compared to the rest of the state.
Emotional Support Animals: Washington Landlords CANNOT Charge Fees
Under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and HUD guidelines, emotional support animals (ESAs) and service animals are not classified as "pets." This means:
- Landlords cannot charge pet deposits for an ESA or service animal
- Landlords cannot charge monthly pet rent for an ESA
- Landlords cannot require PetScreening or similar paid screenings for ESAs
- Landlords can request documentation from a licensed mental health professional — but this documentation must be reasonable and is limited in scope
- Landlords cannot demand your specific diagnosis, medical records, or charge an application fee for ESA accommodation requests
What Washington Landlords CANNOT Do
- Charge pet fees, deposits, or pet rent for documented ESAs
- Require ESA owners to use PetScreening or similar paid services
- Apply breed restrictions to ESAs or service animals
- Discriminate based on disability under Washington Law Against Discrimination
- Fail to return refundable deposits within 21 days
What Washington Landlords CAN Legally Do
- Charge separate pet deposits with no state cap for conventional pets
- Designate pet fees as non-refundable if clearly stated in lease
- Charge monthly pet rent for conventional pets
- Request reasonable ESA documentation
If Your Washington Landlord Violated Your Rights
Document Everything
Note whether your pet deposit was designated refundable or non-refundable in your lease.
File with WSHRC
File at hum.wa.gov. Seattle residents can also contact the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.
Free HUD Complaint Letter Template
Copy and customize this template for your HUD complaint or direct communication with your landlord. Replace all [BRACKETED] placeholders with your actual information.