RentGuard / Eviction Notices
Eviction Notice Requirements by State (2026)
Every US state has different rules for how much notice a landlord must give before filing for eviction. Serve the wrong notice — wrong period, wrong form, wrong service method — and you start over. In some states that delay costs 3–6 months of lost rent.
Select your state below for the exact notice periods, deposit rules, and recent law changes. Generate a print-ready notice for free.
50
States covered
2026
Updated
Free
Notice generation
Select your state
Alabama7 daysAlaska7 daysArizona5 daysArkansas3 daysCalifornia3 daysColorado10 daysConnecticut3 daysDelaware5 daysFlorida3 daysGeorgia7 daysHawaii5 daysIdaho3 daysIllinois5 daysIndiana10 daysIowa3 daysKansas3 daysKentucky7 daysLouisiana5 daysMaine7 daysMaryland10 daysMassachusetts14 daysMichigan7 daysMinnesota14 daysMississippi3 daysMissouriImmediateMontana3 daysNebraska7 daysNevada7 daysNew Hampshire7 daysNew JerseyJust causeNew Mexico3 daysNew York14 daysNorth Carolina10 daysNorth Dakota3 daysOhio3 daysOklahoma5 daysOregon13 daysPennsylvania10 daysRhode Island5 daysSouth Carolina5 daysSouth Dakota3 daysTennessee14 daysTexas3 daysUtah3 daysVermont14 daysVirginia5 daysWashington14 daysWest VirginiaImmediateWisconsin5 daysWyoming3 days
Eviction notice FAQ
What is a pay-or-quit notice?+
A pay-or-quit notice is a formal written demand from a landlord requiring a tenant to pay overdue rent within a specified number of days or vacate the property. Notice periods vary by state, ranging from 3 days to 14 days.
What state has the shortest eviction notice period?+
Several states including Texas, Florida, California, Idaho, Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, and Wyoming require only a 3-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment of rent.
What state has the longest eviction notice period?+
New York requires a 14-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment, and Washington and Massachusetts also require 14 days. New York also requires 30, 60, or 90-day termination notices depending on tenancy length.
Do I need just cause to evict a tenant?+
Just cause eviction requirements vary by state. New Jersey requires just cause statewide. California, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon require just cause after a tenant has lived in the unit for a specified period. Most other states allow landlords to terminate month-to-month tenancies without cause with proper notice.
How do I generate an eviction notice?+
RentGuard generates state-specific eviction notices for free. Select your state, enter the tenant and property details, and download a print-ready notice with the correct notice period automatically applied.
Generate your eviction notice — free
RentGuard generates state-specific notices with correct notice periods applied automatically. Print-ready in seconds.
Generate notice →Not legal advice. Verify requirements with a licensed attorney in your state before serving.