Weatherization Assistance Program (Washington)
Last updated August 2026
Washington's weatherization program fixes the home so the energy bill shrinks for good. First a certified professional does an energy audit. Then your county agency installs what the numbers justify: insulation, air sealing, weather stripping, ventilation, LED lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and heating and hot water servicing. Crews also handle hazards like mold, asbestos, combustion safety, and lead.
There are three ways in, and you only need one. Income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Or up to 60 percent of state median income. Or up to 80 percent of area median income. In a high-cost county, that last test reaches households the poverty line never would. Let the agency check all three before you decide you earn too much.
Renters qualify, not just homeowners. The income test applies to the household, not the deed. Apply directly to the agency serving your county from the state's contact list. A few examples: Seattle's Office of Housing at 206-684-0244, King County Housing Authority at 206-214-1240 outside Seattle, Spokane's SNAP at 509-456-7627. Tribal households have their own agencies, including Spokane Indian Housing Authority and Yakama Nation Housing Authority.
Set honest expectations. This is not a window-replacement program, and no specific upgrade is guaranteed; the audit and cost-effectiveness math decide. Waitlists are often long, and even a broken furnace in winter cannot be touched until income qualification is done, so apply before the emergency, not during it.
There is a side door worth knowing: a LIHEAP appointment at the same community agency can route you into weatherization. If you are already getting heating help, ask the agency to start the weatherization file in the same visit.
Related programs stack on top for the same households: the Home Rehabilitation Grant Program, Weatherization Plus Health, and state appliance and electrification rebates. Ask your agency which apply, and pair it all with LIHEAP for this season's bill while the house gets fixed for every season after.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Households up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, 60 percent of state median income, or 80 percent of area median income may qualify; homeowners and renters both count
- You apply through your local weatherization agency, which qualifies your household and schedules the work
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Find your county's weatherization agency on the state Commerce contact list.
- 2
Apply with that agency and ask it to check all three income tests: 200 percent of poverty, 60 percent of state median, 80 percent of area median.
- 3
Renters: apply too; the income test is about the household, not ownership.
- 4
Complete the energy audit and get in the queue early; waitlists run long.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who qualifies for weatherization in Washington?
Households meeting any one of three tests: 200 percent of the federal poverty level, 60 percent of state median income, or 80 percent of area median income. Renters and homeowners both qualify.
What work gets done?
Whatever the energy audit justifies: insulation, air sealing, ventilation, LED lighting, detector installation, heating and hot water servicing, plus health and safety fixes. Windows are only occasionally replaced.
How long is the wait?
Often long; agencies keep waitlists, and work cannot start until income qualification is complete. Apply before the emergency.
Can LIHEAP get me into weatherization?
Yes. A LIHEAP appointment at the same community agency can route your household into the weatherization program; ask in the same visit.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
See all Washington programs →Free · Private · No account needed