Non-compete agreements - Washington

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

The state of Washington has no law specifically regarding non-compete agreements. That means that the state courts might have to determine whether the agreement would hold up or not.

Whether or not a non-compete agreement is a legal and binding contract depends on the scope of the restrictions the agreement includes, precedents set in court decisions, and a variety of other factors.

Typically courts do not want to deprive employees of earning a living in their chosen fields, but they also want to protect companies. So, a non-compete agreement might be enforceable, but only if it is reasonable in scope and necessary to protect the company's interests.

State

Contact

Department of Labor & Industries

Regulations

None.

Federal

Contact

Department of Labor

Regulations

None.