Certified mail is no longer required to serve a termination notice in Washington. House Bill 2664, Chapter 144, Laws of 2026, took effect on June 11, 2026 and rewrote the mailing rules in RCW 59.12.040. Where personal delivery fails, the mailed copy of a notice may now go by regular US mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed and posted from within Washington. The five extra days before filing still apply, and the notice itself still has to state an exact calendar date.
If you own rentals in Olympia, Lacey or Tumwater and you learned the certified mail routine over the last year, this is the update that simplifies it again. Here is exactly what changed, what did not, and the paperwork worth keeping now.
What HB 2664 changed
The session law amends RCW 59.12.040, the statute that governs how termination notices are served. Since June 11, 2026, the valid methods are:
- Personal delivery to the tenant. Always the first choice, and always sufficient on its own.
- If the tenant is absent, leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the premises, and mailing a copy to the residence.
- If no suitable person can be found and the residence is the property, affixing the notice conspicuously on the premises and mailing a copy to the property address.
The operative change is in the mailing. The amended statute deems service complete when the copy is deposited in the United States mail from within Washington state, properly addressed with postage prepaid. The previous wording, which required certified mail, is gone.
Why the Legislature reversed course
The certified mail requirement arrived with House Bill 1003 in July 2025 and caused a predictable problem: certified letters that tenants did not sign for sat unclaimed at the post office, notices technically travelled but never reached anyone, and both sides lost time. We made that case in January in our piece on the cost and complications of certified mail notices, and the Legislature landed in the same place. HB 2664 passed and was signed on March 23, 2026.
What did not change
| Rule | Status | Where it comes from |
| The notice must state the specific calendar date to pay, comply or vacate | Still required | House Bill 1003, effective July 27, 2025 |
| Five additional days before filing when service involves mailing | Still required | RCW 59.12.040 |
| The statutory 14 day notice form, including rental assistance information | Still required | RCW 59.18.057 |
| Personal delivery as the primary method, with mail as the backup route | Unchanged | RCW 59.12.040 |
| Email and text as service | Still not valid | RCW 59.12.040 lists the methods, and they are not on the list |
The date requirement deserves emphasis because it trips people up in the opposite direction: HB 2664 made the envelope easier, but the House Bill 1003 rules about what the notice says are untouched. A notice reading only “within 14 days” still fails. Count the days, include the five mailing days where they apply, land on a date, and print it.
The proof to keep now
Certified mail produced an automatic paper trail. Regular mail does not, so build your own:
- A declaration of service recording who served the notice, when, how, and on whom.
- A certificate of mailing from the post office. It costs a couple of dollars and proves the envelope entered the mail on a specific date, which is exactly the fact the statute turns on.
- A timestamped photograph when the notice is posted on the premises.
Service disputes are decided on evidence, and the party with the certificate and the declaration usually wins them. The requirement got lighter. The discipline should not.
A worked example on the dates
Suppose rent is unpaid and personal delivery fails on August 10. You leave the notice with an adult at the premises and mail a copy the same day. The 14 day period plus the five mailing days means the earliest lawful filing follows nineteen days, so the pay or vacate date printed on the notice must reflect that. Our nonpayment guide walks the whole sequence, and the step by step eviction guide covers what happens if it goes to court.
What is coming next
Two further requirements are on the calendar, as flagged by Washington Law Help: a flood hazard disclosure duty for rentals in flood areas applying after December 31, 2026, and rules on smart access systems and data privacy from January 1, 2027. We will cover each in detail once we have verified the specifics against the session laws, and update leases accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is certified mail still required for eviction notices in Washington?
No. HB 2664, effective June 11, 2026, removed the certified mail requirement from RCW 59.12.040. Where personal delivery fails, the mailed copy may now go by regular US mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed, posted from within Washington.
Can a landlord serve a termination notice by email or text?
No. The recognised methods under RCW 59.12.040 are personal delivery, leaving a copy with a person of suitable age at the premises plus mailing, or posting the notice conspicuously plus mailing where no suitable person can be found. Email and text are not service.
How many extra days apply when a notice is served by mail?
Five. When service is made by mail, five additional days must be allowed before an unlawful detainer action may be filed. HB 2664 did not change this.
Does the notice still have to state an exact calendar date?
Yes. The House Bill 1003 requirement from July 27, 2025 still stands: every termination notice must state the specific calendar date by which the tenant must pay, comply or vacate. HB 2664 changed how notices travel, not what they must say.
What proof of service should a landlord keep now?
A declaration of service describing when and how the notice was served, a certificate of mailing from the post office for the mailed copy, and a timestamped photograph if the notice was posted. Certified mail is no longer required, but proof that you mailed it still wins disputes.
Which notices does this change cover?
HB 2664 amends RCW 59.12.040, the service statute for the termination notices used in the unlawful detainer process, such as the 14 day pay or vacate notice. For any other kind of notice, check the service rule in the statute that creates it rather than assuming this one applies.
Serving notices on a managed property
MVP Property Pros has managed rental homes across Thurston County since 2004, through the certified mail rule arriving and now through it leaving. On managed properties we track these procedural changes so owners do not have to, and every notice goes out correctly dated, correctly served and documented. If you self-manage and want a notice checked before it goes out, get in touch or call (360) 339-8539.
Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed, and not to be construed as legal advice. Laws and local ordinances change, and how they apply depends on your property and situation. Consult your attorney or your property manager before acting on anything here. Where possible, statements in this article link to the statute, code section or agency publication they are drawn from, so you can verify them directly.
Sources
- HB 2664, Chapter 144, Laws of 2026, session law, the amended service rules, effective June 11, 2026.
- RCW 59.12.040, service of notices.
- House Bill 1003 summary, the specific date requirement, effective July 27, 2025.
- RCW 59.18.057, the statutory 14 day notice form.
- Washington Law Help, 2026 changes for renters, the upcoming flood disclosure and smart access requirements.