Snohomish County, Washington: Small Claims for a Security Deposit
Limits: $10,000 (statewide). Court: Snohomish County District Court, Small Claims. Statewide filing fee: $50.
Filing facts
| State small claims limits | $10,000 (statewide) |
|---|---|
| Statewide filing fee | $50 |
| E-filing | Not verified |
| Time limit to sue in Washington | 3 years. |
| State deposit return deadline |
|
| Penalty formula | If landlord fails to provide the statement/refund within 30 days, landlord becomes liable to tenant for the full amount of the deposit; if the court finds the landlord's refusal to give the statement, documentation, or refund was "intentional," the court may in its discretion award up to 2x the deposit amount, plus the prevailing party (tenant, if they win) may recover costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. If the landlord fails to provide the initial move-in checklist (RCW 59.18.260) before collecting a deposit, landlord is liable for the full deposit amount plus costs/fees. Bad faith required: Yes. |
| Deposit statute | RCW 59.18.260, RCW 59.18.280 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act) |
Where to file
Snohomish County District Court, Small Claims
Courthouse city: Everett (also Cascade, South, and Evergreen divisions)
Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.
Court page check not recorded
See how to file in Washington for the state filing procedure.
Rent and deposits in Snohomish County
County median gross rent: $1,866 per month.
| Bedrooms | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,523 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,561 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,841 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,268 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,817 |
Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,841; two months is $3,682. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,841.
State legal maximum deposit in Washington: not capped statewide by RCW 59.18 (some local ordinances, e.g. Seattle, add rules, but no statewide dollar cap).
Statewide filing fee for a deposit-only claim of $1,841: $50, about 3% of that deposit, rounded to a whole percent. Adding other amounts to the claim may change the filing fee.
Total households in Snohomish County: 311,825.
Renter households: 98,566 (31.6% of all households).
Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 3.7%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.
County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed .
Will my deposit claim fit the limit?
Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Snohomish County, $1,841 per month.
The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.
- Compared with $10,000 (statewide), the whole deposit range fits.
A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.
Towns this court serves
A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.
- Arlington
- Bothell
- Brier
- Darrington
- Edmonds
- Everett
- Gold Bar
- Granite Falls
- Index
- Lake Stevens
- Lynnwood
- Marysville
- Mill Creek
- Monroe
- Mountlake Terrace
- Mukilteo
- Snohomish
- Stanwood
- Sultan
- Woodway
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.
Courthouse details
Address: 3000 Rockefeller Ave, MS 508, Everett, WA 98201-4046
Phone: 425-388-3331
Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21
Statewide help
- Northwest Justice Project
Free legal help for eligible Washington renters facing eviction; phone is the statewide Eviction Defense Screening Line.
Phone: (855) 657-8387
- Tenants Union of Washington State
Free tenant-rights education and counseling by trained non-attorney counselors, including landlord-tenant questions and preventing housing loss; not attorney representation.
Phone: (206) 723-0500
These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.
From letter to filing
- Send a Washington security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
- Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 14 days after your letter.
- Time limit to sue in Washington: 3 years.
- Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.
This template uses Washington law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.
Free Washington template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Washington law (RCW 59.18.260, RCW 59.18.280), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises (or, if tenant abandons, within 30 days after landlord learns of the abandonment).
FAQ
How much does it cost to file in Snohomish County?
Statewide filing fee: $50
How long do I have to sue?
Time limit to sue in Washington: 3 years.
Where do I file?
Snohomish County District Court, Small Claims. Courthouse city: Everett (also Cascade, South, and Evergreen divisions). Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.