Are Rental Application Fees Legal in Washington?
What Washington lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
actual cost only — A landlord may charge only the actual cost of the tenant screening, and must first give you written notice of what the screening will cover, the criteria used, and the name of the screening company.
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in Washington that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Actual cost only |
|---|---|
| The legal line | actual cost only |
| Refund rights | Charges above actual cost are not allowed; if the landlord doesn't run a report, the fee must be returned. |
| Receipt required | Yes |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | RCW 59.18.257 |
Check your Washington application fee
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How Washington compares
See every state's cap, the real cost of screening, and the markup landlords add — the full picture in one place.
Informational only, not legal advice — verify RCW 59.18.257 and current screening costs before acting.