District of Columbia Notice to Landlord (Tenant Move-Out Letter)

A free District of Columbia notice to landlord (tenant move-out letter) that follows District of Columbia law. Fill in the boxes, check the rules below, then print or copy it. Keep a copy and proof of how you sent it.

What District of Columbia law says

Ending a month-to-month lease	Tenant: 30 days' written notice, expiring on the first day of a month at least 30 days after the notice. Landlord: cannot end a residential tenancy just because the lease or month ends; may evict only for one of the statutory causes in § 42-3505.01 (e.g., 90 days for owner use or sale, 120 days for renovation, 180 days for demolition or discontinuing housing use). Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01
How notices must be delivered	Every eviction requires a written notice. Notices for any reason other than nonpayment must be served on both the tenant and the Rent Administrator. If a notice or summons is served by posting, a photo with a readable timestamp must be filed with the court. The notice must be in the tenant's primary language if the landlord knows it is another covered language. The 10-day notice of intent to file for nonpayment must be sent by certified mail, or a delivery service with tracking, return receipt requested, and also hand-delivered to the unit or posted on its front door. For other Rental Housing Act documents, service may be made by hand, by leaving the document with a responsible person at the person's business or a person of suitable age at their residence, by mail, or as the Rental Housing Commission or Rent Administrator orders. No statute authorizes email service of eviction notices. Source: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1)-(4), (a-1)(3); § 42-3509.04(a)

Ending a month-to-month lease

Tenant: 30 days' written notice, expiring on the first day of a month at least 30 days after the notice. Landlord: cannot end a residential tenancy just because the lease or month ends; may evict only for one of the statutory causes in § 42-3505.01 (e.g., 90 days for owner use or sale, 120 days for renovation, 180 days for demolition or discontinuing housing use).

Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01

How notices must be delivered

Every eviction requires a written notice. Notices for any reason other than nonpayment must be served on both the tenant and the Rent Administrator. If a notice or summons is served by posting, a photo with a readable timestamp must be filed with the court. The notice must be in the tenant's primary language if the landlord knows it is another covered language. The 10-day notice of intent to file for nonpayment must be sent by certified mail, or a delivery service with tracking, return receipt requested, and also hand-delivered to the unit or posted on its front door. For other Rental Housing Act documents, service may be made by hand, by leaving the document with a responsible person at the person's business or a person of suitable age at their residence, by mail, or as the Rental Housing Commission or Rent Administrator orders. No statute authorizes email service of eviction notices.

Source: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1)-(4), (a-1)(3); § 42-3509.04(a)

Fill in your letter

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To: [landlord or manager name], [landlord address]

From: [your name], tenant at [rental address]

This is my written notice that I am ending my month-to-month tenancy at the rental above. My last day in the unit will be [move-out date].

I am giving this notice under D.C. Code §§ 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01, which sets the notice a tenant must give.

Please return my security deposit, less only deductions the law allows, to my forwarding address: [forwarding address].

You can reach me at [phone or email] to arrange a move-out walk-through and key return.

Date: [today's date]
Tenant: [your name]
Signature: ____________________

How to send it: use a method you can prove — certified mail with return receipt, or email/text if your lease allows notices that way. Write down the date.

Notice to Landlord (Tenant Move-Out Letter) templates for other states · All District of Columbia landlord-tenant rules · Free legal help in District of Columbia

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.