Eviction notice laws by state
Before a landlord can file an eviction case, most states require a written notice that gives the tenant a set number of days to pay, fix a lease violation or move out. Here are those notices for 51 jurisdictions, each rule linked to its statute. Last checked .
When does the notice run out?
Choose the state, the type of notice and the date it was served.
Every state at a glance
| State | Unpaid rent | Lease violation |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 7 business days (pay or move out) | 7 business days (fix it or move out) |
| Alaska | 7 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (fix it or move out) |
| Arizona | 5 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (fix it or move out) |
| Arkansas | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to pay) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| California | 3 business days (pay or move out) | 3 business days (fix it or move out) |
| Colorado | 10 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (fix it or move out) |
| Connecticut | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to pay) | 15 days (fix it or move out) |
| Delaware | 7 days (pay or move out) | 7 days (fix it or move out) |
| District of Columbia | 10 days (pay or move out) | 30 days (fix it or move out) |
| Florida | 3 business days (pay or move out) | 7 days (fix it or move out) |
| Georgia | 3 business days (pay or move out) | Varies |
| Hawaii | 10 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (fix it or move out) |
| Idaho | 3 days (pay or move out) | 3 days (fix it or move out) |
| Illinois | 5 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Indiana | 10 days (pay or move out) | Varies |
| Iowa | 3 days (pay or move out) | 7 days (fix it or move out) |
| Kansas | 3 days (pay or move out) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| Kentucky | 7 days (pay or move out) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| Louisiana | 5 business days (notice to vacate, no right to pay) | 5 business days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Maine | 7 days (pay or move out) | 7 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Maryland | 10 days (pay or move out) | 30 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Massachusetts | 14 days (pay or move out) | Varies |
| Michigan | 7 days (pay or move out) | Notice to vacate, no right to fix |
| Minnesota | 14 days (pay or move out) | No notice required |
| Mississippi | 3 days (pay or move out) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| Missouri | Demand for rent | 10 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Montana | 3 days (pay or move out) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| Nebraska | 7 days (pay or move out) | 30 days (fix it or move out) |
| Nevada | 7 court days (pay or move out) | 5 days (fix it or move out) |
| New Hampshire | 7 days (pay or move out) | 30 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| New Jersey | No notice required | Varies |
| New Mexico | 3 days (pay or move out) | 7 days (fix it or move out) |
| New York | 14 days (pay or move out) | Varies |
| North Carolina | 10 days (pay or move out) | Varies |
| North Dakota | 3 days (pay or move out) | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Ohio | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to pay) | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Oklahoma | 5 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (fix it or move out) |
| Oregon | 10 days (pay or move out) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| Pennsylvania | 10 days (notice to vacate, no right to pay) | 15 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Rhode Island | 5 days (pay or move out) | 20 days (fix it or move out) |
| South Carolina | 5 business days (pay or move out) | 14 days (fix it or move out) |
| South Dakota | No notice required | No notice required |
| Tennessee | 14 days (pay or move out) | 14 days (varies) |
| Texas | 3 days (pay or move out) | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Utah | 3 business days (pay or move out) | 3 days (fix it or move out) |
| Vermont | 14 days (pay or move out) | 30 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
| Virginia | 14 days (pay or move out) | 30 days (fix it or move out) |
| Washington | 14 days (pay or move out) | 10 days (fix it or move out) |
| West Virginia | No notice required | No notice required |
| Wisconsin | 5 days (pay or move out) | 5 days (fix it or move out) |
| Wyoming | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to pay) | 3 days (notice to vacate, no right to fix) |
Summary only — leases, local ordinances and federal rules can add time. Open your state for the full rules. This is legal information, not legal advice; see our methodology.
What every state has in common
- A notice is not an eviction. If the tenant stays after the notice runs out, the landlord must file a court case and win it.
- Only a court order, carried out by a sheriff, marshal or constable, can remove a tenant. Changing the locks or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out is illegal in nearly every state; your state page says what its law provides.
- The tenant can answer the court case and raise defenses (for example, a defective notice or retaliation). State legal aid can help for free.
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy without a reason uses a different notice: see notice periods by state.
Federal 30-day notice for covered properties
Under the CARES Act, the landlord of a “covered dwelling” — a property in a federal housing program or with a federally backed mortgage (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA) — may not require a tenant to vacate until 30 days after giving a notice to vacate, even where state law allows a shorter notice. 15 U.S.C. § 9058(c). Courts have disagreed on exactly when this applies, so tenants in these properties should ask legal aid.
Tools
- Eviction notice deadline calculator: the last day to pay, fix or leave.
- Move-out notice calculator: ending a month-to-month tenancy.
- Security deposit laws: getting your deposit back.