Washington physician non-compete law
Washington sharply limits physician non-competes.
Washington treats physician non-competes with heavy skepticism and narrows or sets aside restrictions that reach too far. Restrictions that tend to stand here run about 2–25 miles and 12–18 months; terms beyond that are the most vulnerable. Before you sign, pull the radius and term to the low end of what the state lets stand, and make sure the clause covers only the sites where you actually worked.
- Posture
- Enforceable subject to statutory caps (near-total ban effective 6/30/2027)
- Last reviewed
- 2026-06-10
- Radius that tends to stand
- 2–25 miles
- Term that tends to stand
- 12–18 months
Governing law: RCW 49.62 (esp. RCW 49.62.020; threshold adjusted annually under RCW 49.62.040); amended by SB 5935 (2024); to be superseded by ESHB 1155 (2026), eff. June 30, 2027
These are the general rules for Washington. Your contract's exact radius, term, and buyout decide how it actually lands. See how your own clause compares — free.
Check your contract — free →A case that shaped this
Labriola v. Pollard Group, Inc. (2004, Wash. Supreme Court (152 Wn.2d 828, 100 P.3d 791)) — General Washington non-compete framework (not a physician case): a covenant signed after employment begins is validly formed only if supported by independent, additional, stated consideration; continued at-will employment is insufficient, so the post-hire covenant was struck down.
The detailed picture
As of June 2026, physician non-competes are enforceable only under RCW 49.62: the physician's annualized earnings must exceed the L&I inflation-adjusted threshold ($126,858.83 for 2026; the base statute states $100,000, adjusted yearly under RCW 49.62.040), terms must be disclosed in writing no later than the time of the offer's acceptance, durations over 18 months are presumed unreasonable absent clear-and-convincing proof, and layoff enforcement requires paying base salary (minus subsequent earnings) during the restraint. SB 5935 (eff. June 6, 2024) tightened disclosure timing and narrowed the nonsolicitation carve-out to 'current' customers. There is no physician-specific carve-out; physicians fall under the general statute and courts judge reasonableness case-by-case, blue-penciling/reforming overbroad scope (Emerick). CRITICAL PENDING CHANGE: Engrossed Substitute HB 1155 (signed March 23, 2026) voids nearly ALL non-competes (including healthcare) effective June 30, 2027 — at that point this state flips to 'banned'; only narrow non-solicits (18-mo cap, narrowly construed), sale-of-business / 1%-ownership, confidentiality, and educational/training-repayment carve-outs survive, with employer written-notice obligations by Oct 1, 2027 and a $5,000-or-actual-damages penalty.
Common questions
Are physician non-competes enforceable in Washington?
Washington sharply limits physician non-competes. Governing law: RCW 49.62 (esp. RCW 49.62.020; threshold adjusted annually under RCW 49.62.040); amended by SB 5935 (2024); to be superseded by ESHB 1155 (2026), eff. June 30, 2027.
How far and how long can a Washington physician non-compete reach?
Restrictions that tend to stand here run about 2–25 miles and 12–18 months; terms beyond that are the most vulnerable. The radius and term in your specific contract decide how it lands — check your own clause.
Other states
General legal information, not legal advice. Non-compete enforceability turns on the exact wording of your contract and your circumstances; this page describes the state's general posture as last reviewed 2026-06-10.