Eviction Notice Periods by State (2026)
How much notice each state requires before you can file an eviction for unpaid rent, for 49 states and D.C., with the statute and our state page for each.
Beginner tip: a pay-or-quit notice gives the tenant a set number of days to pay in full. If they pay in time, most states end the case there.
General info, not legal advice. Verify the statute or ask a local attorney. Details
The short answer
Most states require a written notice before filing for unpaid rent. Most fall between 3 days (for example Florida, Ohio and Texas) and 14 days (for example Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington). A few states, such as Missouri and New Jersey, don't require a separate notice to quit for nonpayment.
Each state sets what the notice must say and how to serve it. Many require specific wording or a court form. Every row below comes from our state page, which cites the official statute. On Nov 8, 2026 we re-checked the official text for California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Utah.
Nonpayment notice period by state
| State | Notice for unpaid rent |
|---|---|
| Alabama Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b) · From our state page | 7 business days to pay |
| Alaska AS 34.03.220(b) · From our state page | 7 days to pay or quit |
| Arizona A.R.S. § 33-1368(B) · From our state page | 5 days |
| Arkansas Ark. Code §§ 18-17-701(b), 18-60-304 · From our state page | 3 days' notice to quit once rent is 5 days late |
| California Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 3 days to pay or quit (not counting weekends and court holidays) |
| Colorado C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(d); 13-40-106 · From our state page | 10 days |
| Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23 · From our state page | 3-day notice to quit after the 9-day grace period (4 days for week-to-week) |
| Delaware 25 Del. C. § 5502 · From our state page | 7 days to pay (after the 5-day grace period) |
| District of Columbia D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a), (a-1) · From our state page | 10 days before filing (no filing for under $600 owed) |
| Florida Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 3 days to pay or leave (not counting weekends and legal holidays) Month-to-month: 30 days' notice before the end of a monthly period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3)). |
| Georgia O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(c)–(d) · From our state page | 3 business days to pay or vacate |
| Hawaii HRS § 521-68(a)–(d), (i) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 10 calendar days to pay (mediation rules apply) |
| Idaho Idaho Code §§ 6-303(2), 6-324 · From our state page | 3 days to pay or give possession |
| Illinois 735 ILCS 5/9-209 · From our state page | 5 days to pay |
| Indiana IC 32-31-1-6, -7 · From our state page | 10 days |
| Iowa Iowa Code § 562A.27(2) · From our state page | 3 days |
| Kansas K.S.A. 58-2564(b) · From our state page | 3 days (add 2 if mailed) |
| Kentucky KRS 383.660(2) · From our state page | 7 days where the state's URLTA has been adopted locally |
| Louisiana La. Civ. Code art. 2704; La. C.C.P. art. 4701 · From our state page | 5 days' notice to vacate (lease can waive) |
| Maine 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (2) · From our state page | 7 days (once rent is 7+ days late) |
| Maryland Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(b)–(c) · From our state page | 10-day notice of intent to file |
| Massachusetts M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12 · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 14-day notice to quit |
| Michigan MCL 600.5714(1)(a), 554.134(2) · From our state page | 7-day demand for possession |
| Minnesota Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a · From our state page | 14 days (some cities require longer) |
| Mississippi Miss. Code § 89-8-13(5) · From our state page | 3 days |
| Missouri RSMo §§ 535.010, 535.020, 535.060 · From our state page | No set period (demand the rent, then file) |
| Montana MCA 70-24-422(2) · From our state page | 3 days |
| Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(2) · From our state page | 7 calendar days |
| Nevada NRS 40.2512(1)(b); NRS 40.253 · From our state page | 7 judicial days |
| New Hampshire RSA 540:2, II(a); 540:3, II; 540:9 · From our state page | 7-day notice to quit (after demanding the rent) |
| New Jersey N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2 · From our state page | No notice to quit required before filing for nonpayment |
| New Mexico NMSA 1978 § 47-8-33(D) · From our state page | 3 days |
| New York N.Y. RPAPL § 711(2) · From our state page | 14 days to pay or give up possession |
| North Carolina N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-3, 42-26(a)(3) · From our state page | 10 days after a demand for rent |
| North Dakota N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01(4), 47-32-02 · From our state page | 3 days' notice of intent to evict |
| Ohio Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04(A) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 3-day notice to leave |
| Oklahoma 41 O.S. § 131(B) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 5 days after a written demand |
| Oregon ORS 90.394, 90.395 · From our state page | 72 hours (week-to-week); 10 or 13 days for other tenancies |
| Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act § 501(b), (e), (f) · From our state page | 10-day notice to quit (lease may shorten or waive) |
| Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35 · From our state page | 5 days after mailing (once rent is 15 days overdue) |
| South Carolina S.C. Code § 27-40-710(B) · From our state page | 5 days (a lease clause can serve as the notice) |
| South Dakota SDCL 21-16-1(4), 21-16-6 · From our state page | No separate notice since 2024; file once rent is 3 days late |
| Texas Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005(a) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 3 days' notice to vacate (unless the lease sets a different period) Month-to-month: ends the later of the date in the notice or one month after notice (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001). |
| Utah Utah Code § 78B-6-802(1)(c) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 3 business days to pay or leave |
| Vermont 9 V.S.A. § 4467(a), (k) · From our state page | 14 days |
| Virginia Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F) · Re-checked Nov 8, 2026 | 14 days to pay |
| Washington RCW 59.12.030(3) · From our state page | 14 days to pay or vacate |
| West Virginia W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1 · From our state page | No pre-filing notice in the statute |
| Wisconsin Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a) · From our state page | 5 days to pay or vacate (14-day alternative for month-to-month) |
| Wyoming Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1002(a)(i), 1-21-1003 · From our state page | 3-day notice to quit |
Tennessee is not listed. Our Tennessee page is still being verified, so check Tennessee's official code before you act.
Month-to-month and no-fault endings are different
The table covers notices for unpaid rent. Ending a month-to-month tenancy when the tenant did nothing wrong uses a separate notice, often 30 days or one rental period. Some states and cities require a legal reason ("just cause") to end it at all.
Re-checked Nov 8, 2026: in Florida, a month-to-month tenancy ends with at least 30 days' notice before the end of a monthly period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3)). In Texas, it ends on the later of the date in the notice or one month after notice is given (Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001).
For other states, check the official source and your state page before you send a no-fault notice.
Related tools and pages
Landlord laws by state · Eviction cost by state · Security deposit limits by state · Florida eviction cost by county · Late fee calculator · Rent increase calculator
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the official source and talk to a licensed attorney before acting.
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the official source and talk to a licensed Florida attorney before acting.