Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.420
RCW 59.12.090, 59.12.100, 59.12.121, and 59.12.170 inapplicable.
Operative Text
The provisions of RCW 59.12.090 , 59.12.100 , 59.12.121 , and 59.12.170 shall not apply to any rental agreement included under the provisions of chapter 59.18 RCW.
Section 59.18.420 of Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act establishes that four specific statutes from the general unlawful detainer chapter—RCW 59.12.090, 59.12.100, 59.12.121, and 59.12.170—do not govern rental agreements that fall under chapter 59.18 RCW. In effect, the more specific residential tenancy framework displaces those older general provisions for covered residential leases. This creates a clear boundary between the two bodies of law so that the rules applicable to a given tenancy depend on which statutory chapter governs it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators managing residential rental properties covered by chapter 59.18 RCW should be aware that, under § 59.18.420, the procedural and substantive rules found in RCW 59.12.090, 59.12.100, 59.12.121, and 59.12.170 do not apply to their tenancies. Compliant operators rely on chapter 59.18 RCW—not those general unlawful detainer statutes—when addressing matters those sections would otherwise cover. Consulting the full text of chapter 59.18 RCW helps ensure that notices, timelines, and procedures used in residential tenancy matters align with the correct statutory framework.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants renting under a residential lease governed by chapter 59.18 RCW have the protection of knowing that § 59.18.420 removes the applicability of RCW 59.12.090, 59.12.100, 59.12.121, and 59.12.170 from their tenancy. This means that if a landlord attempts to rely on those general statutes in a dispute or eviction proceeding, a tenant may be able to raise the inapplicability of those provisions as a relevant point under chapter 59.18 RCW. Tenant-rights organizations and Washington's courts self-help resources can help renters understand how this distinction between the two statutory frameworks may affect their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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