HB 1003 in Washington State clarifies the use Certified Mail for Eviction Notices
Update — effective June 11, 2026: Washington HB 2664 removed the Certified Mail requirement that HB 1003 added to RCW 59.12.040 in 2025. The revised law no longer requires these mailed notices to be sent by Certified Mail. It still requires a mailed copy to be deposited in the United States mail from within Washington, properly addressed, with postage prepaid, and it retains the five additional days before an action may begin when service is made by mail. This article has been revised to reflect the current law.
Washington changed its landlord-tenant notice rules twice in less than a year. HB 1003 added a Certified Mail requirement in 2025 for certain unlawful-detainer notices and other notices served in the same manner. HB 2664 reversed that specific requirement effective June 11, 2026.
Under the amended RCW 59.12.040, Certified Mail is no longer mandated for these mailed notices. That does not eliminate the statute’s other service requirements. Depending on the circumstances, the sender may still need to leave or post a copy at the premises, mail another copy to the correct address, complete an affidavit of service, state the exact vacate or compliance date, and wait five additional days before commencing an action based on a notice served by mail.
Key takeaways
- HB 2664 became effective June 11, 2026.
- It removed the Certified Mail requirement from RCW 59.12.040.
- It also removed the prior wording that directed the Certified Mail piece to the person’s last known address; the amended service option instead refers to mailing to the person’s place of residence.
- When a copy is mailed, it must still be deposited in the United States mail from within Washington, properly addressed, with postage prepaid.
- Five additional days must still be allowed before beginning an action based on a notice served by mail.
- A termination notice must still identify the date by which the recipient must vacate or comply.
- Certified Mail may still be used voluntarily for tracking or documentation, but it is no longer a statutory requirement under amended RCW 59.12.040.
What changed between 2025 and 2026?
| Requirement | HB 1003 rule (effective 2025) | HB 2664 rule (effective June 11, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Mail service | Certified Mail was required in the affected mailed-notice scenarios | The Certified Mail requirement is removed; the statute says to send the copy through the mail |
| Place of mailing | Certified Mail had to be posted from within Washington | A mailed copy must still be deposited in the United States mail from within Washington |
| Address language | The prior language referred to the last known address | The applicable service option now refers to the person’s place of residence; a separate provision addresses mailing to the premises when residence is unknown |
| Postage | Prepaid | Still prepaid |
| Extra time after mail service | Five additional days | Still five additional days |
| Date in termination notice | Exact vacate or compliance date required | Still required |
| Proof of service | Affidavit permitted | Still permitted; a Certified Mail receipt is no longer a statutory prerequisite under this section |
HB 1003 briefly made Certified Mail mandatory for these notices in 2025. HB 2664 superseded that requirement in 2026. The history matters only so readers understand why older guidance — including earlier versions of this article — described a Certified Mail mandate that no longer applies.
Process now under HB 2664
HB 2664 did not replace the full service framework. It made a targeted change by removing Certified Mail from the mailing requirements.
RCW 59.12.040 continues to provide different service paths depending on whether personal delivery is possible and whether the recipient or another suitable person can be found at the premises. Where mailing is part of the required method, the sender must follow the address, posting or delivery, affidavit, timing, and notice-content rules that apply to that situation.
For a mailed copy, service is deemed complete when the copy is deposited in the United States mail from within Washington, properly addressed, with postage prepaid. Five additional days must be allowed before commencing an action based on the notice.
Because the correct service method depends on the notice and facts, landlords and property managers should update their templates and workflows with Washington counsel rather than simply replacing Certified Mail with ordinary mail in every situation.
Can a sender still choose Certified Mail?
HB 2664 removes a requirement; it does not prohibit a sender from choosing Certified Mail when a documented mailing trail is useful and counsel confirms that the full statutory service process is satisfied.
Certified Mail can provide tracking and evidence associated with mailing and delivery attempts. Those records may support an organization’s internal documentation, but they do not replace the other service steps, timing rules, affidavit requirements, or address requirements in Washington law. SimpleCertifiedMail customers should align their mailing method with their attorney-approved process for the specific notice.
Frequently asked questions
Not under RCW 59.12.040 as amended by HB 2664, effective June 11, 2026. The law removed the Certified Mail requirement for unlawful-detainer notices and other notices required to be served in the same manner. Other delivery, mailing, timing, and proof-of-service requirements remain.
No. When a copy is sent through the mail under RCW 59.12.040, the statute still states that it must be deposited in the United States mail from within Washington, properly addressed, with postage prepaid.
The amended statute removes the mandate rather than prohibiting Certified Mail. A sender may still choose a documented mailing method, but should confirm with counsel that it fits the complete service procedure for the notice involved.
Yes. The five-day extension before commencing an action based on a notice served by mail remains in the amended statute.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Service requirements can depend on the type of notice and the facts of the case. Confirm current Washington requirements and your procedure with qualified counsel before serving a landlord-tenant or unlawful-detainer notice.