Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord generally may not interrupt utilities provided to a residential tenant—such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and in some areas, trash collection—unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

A landlord generally may not shut off utilities to a residential tenant because the tenant is late in paying for the utilities. Laws vary from state to state, and laws related to a landlord’s interruption of a residential tenant’s utility services are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Washington State, landlords are prohibited from intentionally interrupting a tenant's utilities as a means of eviction or to force a tenant to vacate the property. This includes utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and trash collection. The only exceptions to this rule are when utility interruptions are necessary for repairs, construction, or in response to an emergency situation. If a tenant is late in paying utility bills, the landlord still does not have the right to shut off their utilities. These regulations are designed to protect tenants from unlawful eviction practices and ensure that their access to essential services is not unjustly interrupted. Washington State's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act outlines these and other rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants regarding utility services.