Eviction Laws and Notice Periods by State (2026)
The notice a landlord must give before filing, how the court process works, and what a landlord can never do — state by state.
Only a court can evict you
In virtually every state a landlord cannot remove a tenant on their own. Changing the locks, removing doors or belongings, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out ("self-help eviction") is illegal, and tenants can often recover damages for it. A tenant can only be removed after a court judgment, and the removal itself is carried out by a sheriff, marshal or constable.
The usual steps
- Written notice. The landlord serves a notice — to pay rent, fix a lease violation, or move out. The required number of days depends on the state and the reason (see the table).
- Court filing. If the tenant doesn't pay, cure or leave, the landlord files an eviction case (often called unlawful detainer, summary process, forcible entry and detainer, or a landlord-tenant / possession case).
- Service and answer. The tenant is served court papers and has a short time to answer or appear.
- Hearing. Both sides present their case. Tenants who don't show up usually lose by default.
- Judgment and writ. If the landlord wins, the court issues an order for possession; the tenant gets a final short window before an officer can carry it out.
If you receive an eviction notice
- Read the deadline and reason carefully; a notice is not a court order.
- Never ignore court papers — go to the hearing.
- Contact local legal aid or your state court's self-help center (linked on each state page). Some cities provide a free lawyer to tenants facing eviction.
- Ask about emergency rental assistance if the case is about unpaid rent.
Eviction: all 50 states and DC
| State | Notice for unpaid rent | Notice for lease violations | Lockouts & utility shutoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Written notice to terminate that states the rent and any late fees owed. The rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice, unless the tenant pays (cures) within the 7 business days. Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b) | For a material noncompliance, the landlord gives written notice describing the breach. The rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after receipt unless the tenant remedies the breach first. Some acts are noncurable and allow termination on a 7-day notice: illegal drugs, illegal firearm use or discharge, criminal assault on the premises, a repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months, and intentional misrepresentation of a material fact in the application. Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(a), (d) | Self-help eviction is prohibited. A landlord may not take possession, including by interrupting heat, water, hot water, electricity, gas, or other essential service, except after abandonment or surrender or as the Act permits. A tenant who is unlawfully removed, excluded, or has services cut off may recover possession or terminate the lease. In either case the tenant recovers the greater of up to 3 months' periodic rent or actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees. Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-427, 35-9A-407 |
| Alaska | 7-day written notice to quit. The notice must state the correct total rent due, offer the choice to pay or move, and warn that an eviction suit may follow. Paying the rent within the 7 days cures it. A tenant cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees alone. AS 09.45.090; AS 09.45.105; AS 34.03.220(b) | 10-day written notice for a breach of the rental agreement or of the tenant's statutory duties that endangers others' health and safety. The tenancy continues if the tenant corrects the problem within the notice period. A substantially similar repeat breach within 6 months allows a 5-day notice with no right to cure. Intentional damage over $400 allows a notice of 24 hours to 5 days. Illegal activity on the premises allows a 5-day notice. Utility shutoff for the tenant's nonpayment allows a 5-day notice, curable within 3 days. AS 34.03.220(a), (e); AS 09.45.090(a)(2)(G) | Self-help eviction is prohibited: no shutting off utilities, changing locks, taking belongings, or retaking the unit without a court hearing, even if the lease says otherwise. If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully cuts services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate, and in either case may recover up to 1.5 times actual damages. AS 34.03.210; AS 34.03.040(a)(1) |
| Arizona | 5-day written notice of nonpayment stating that the landlord will terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid within that time. Before an eviction is filed, paying all past-due rent plus a reasonable late fee set in a written lease reinstates the agreement. After filing, reinstatement also requires paying attorney fees and court costs. After judgment, reinstatement is at the landlord's discretion. A.R.S. § 33-1368(B) | 10-day notice to cure a material noncompliance with the rental agreement. 5-day notice to cure a noncompliance with § 33-1341 that materially affects health and safety. A repeat of the same or similar violation allows a special detainer action 10 days after written notice. A material and irreparable breach on the premises (for example, illegal weapon discharge, assault, threatening, drug dealing, or serious property damage) allows a notice of immediate termination. A.R.S. § 33-1368(A) | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water, or other essential service, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the lease. In either case the tenant recovers the greater of up to two months' periodic rent or twice actual damages. A.R.S. §§ 33-1367, 33-1364(C)-(D) |
| Arkansas | For a civil unlawful detainer, the landlord must give three days' written notice to vacate before filing. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-60-304 | Three days' written notice to vacate before filing an unlawful detainer, the same as for nonpayment. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-60-304 | No statute — no Arkansas landlord-tenant statute expressly bans lockouts or utility shutoffs or gives the tenant a damages remedy for them. The statutory routes to regain possession are unlawful detainer (§§ 18-60-301 et seq., 3 days' written notice) and eviction in district court (§§ 18-17-901 et seq.), with the sheriff executing the writ. Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17; §§ 18-60-304, 18-60-307, 18-17-901 |
| California | 3-day notice to pay rent or quit, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays. The notice must state the amount due, the name, phone number, and address of the person to pay, and the payment method. It may be served any time within one year after the rent becomes due. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2) | 3-day notice to perform the lease covenant or quit, where the breach can be cured. Weekends and court holidays do not count. For a serious violation that cannot be cured (such as nuisance, waste, or illegal use), a 3-day notice to quit, counting every day. Where just cause applies (§ 1946.2), the landlord must first give written notice and an opportunity to cure a curable violation. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(3)-(4); Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 | Prohibited when done to force the tenant out: willfully cutting utilities (water, heat, light, electricity, gas, telephone, elevator, refrigeration), changing locks, removing doors or windows, or removing the tenant's belongings. The tenant may recover actual damages plus up to $100 per day of violation, with a minimum of $250 per cause of action, and reasonable attorney's fees. Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3 |
| Colorado | 10-day written demand to pay rent or deliver possession. Exempt residential agreements get 5 days; employer-provided housing gets 3 days. The tenant may pay the full amount in the notice, plus any rent that has since come due, at any time until the judge enters a judgment for possession. Payment can go to the landlord or the court, and the case is then dismissed. C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104(1)(d), 13-40-106, 13-40-115(4) | 10-day written notice to comply with the violated condition or covenant, or deliver possession (5 days for exempt residential agreements, 3 days for employer-provided housing). A repeat violation of the same covenant after a prior notice allows termination 10 days after written notice, with no cure. Substantial violations, such as certain violent or drug-related criminal acts, are handled under § 13-40-107.5. C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104(1)(e), (1)(e.5), 13-40-107.5 | Unlawful for a landlord to remove or exclude a tenant without court process, including by willfully cutting utilities or removing doors, windows, or locks. Exceptions are abandonment, mutual consent, and meth-lab cleanup rules. The tenant is awarded statutory damages equal to actual damages plus the higher of three times monthly rent or $5,000, plus attorney fees and costs, and the court may restore possession. C.R.S. § 38-12-510 |
| Connecticut | Rent is not 'unpaid' for eviction purposes until a 9-day grace period passes (4 days for week-to-week). Landlord then serves a written Notice to Quit giving at least 3 days before the quit date. From Jan. 1, 2026, the grace period is extended 5 more days if the landlord's online payment system prevented on-time payment. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a(a), 47a-23 | Written notice specifying the breach and terminating the lease on a date at least 15 days after receipt; if the breach can be fixed by repair or paying damages and the tenant does so within 15 days, the lease does not terminate. A repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months allows termination without another cure chance. No cure notice is required for nonpayment, serious nuisance, or a § 47a-11(h) violation. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-15 | Self-help eviction is illegal. Civil: 'entry and detainer' complaint to a Superior Court judge for being ousted, held out, or having property removed or detained; double damages plus costs. Criminal: landlord who, without a court order, deprives a tenant of access to the unit or possessions commits criminal lockout, a class C misdemeanor. Loss of landlord-supplied essential services is remedied under § 47a-13. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-43, 47a-46, 53a-214, 47a-13 |
| Delaware | After the late-fee grace period (5 days after rent is due), landlord may serve a written demand giving the tenant at least 7 days to pay before filing for summary possession. If the tenant pays all rent due before the landlord files, the landlord cannot file on that nonpayment and cannot refuse the rent. 25 Del. C. § 5502(a), (c) | Written notice and at least 7 days to cure a material breach of the lease or rules. If a substantially similar breach recurs within 1 year, no new cure notice is needed. No cure period where the breach causes or threatens irreparable harm, or for certain criminal convictions. 25 Del. C. § 5513 | Without a valid court order, a landlord may not oust or exclude the tenant. Tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover the greater of treble damages or 3 times per diem rent for the exclusion period, plus costs (not attorney fees). Landlord may not shut off utility service for nonpayment of rent or utility charges or for any other breach. 25 Del. C. §§ 5313, 5312(e) |
| District of Columbia | At least 10 days' written notice of intent to file before filing a nonpayment eviction, on the statutory form (amount owed, ledger, right to cure, tenant-help phone numbers), sent by certified/tracked mail plus hand delivery or posting. No eviction case may be filed if less than $600 is owed, and no eviction for unpaid late fees. D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.01(a)(1), (a-1); 16-1501 | 30-day notice to correct or vacate; the landlord can recover possession only if the tenant fails to correct the violation within 30 days after receiving notice. Illegal-act cases: 30-day notice to vacate after a court finding; for complaints filed after Dec. 31, 2025 involving a dangerous crime or crime of violence, 10-day notice to vacate with no cure and an expedited hearing within 20 days of filing. D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(b), (c) | Self-help eviction is prohibited: landlord may not cut off utilities or change the locks to evict. Any eviction must follow a court order after the notice to vacate expires and be scheduled and supervised by the U.S. Marshals Service. D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.01, 42-3505.01a, 16-1501 (as summarized in OTA Tenant Bill of Rights) |
| Florida | 3-day written notice to pay or vacate, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and court-observed legal holidays, substantially in the statutory form. Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3) | Curable violations: 7-day notice to cure (repeat within 12 months allows eviction without another chance). Non-curable violations (e.g., intentional damage, continued unreasonable disturbance, and, from October 1, 2026, fraudulent entry of the unit using false identity statements, forged documents or impersonation): 7-day notice to vacate with no cure. Fla. Stat. § 83.56(2); § 817.537; ch. 2026-143, Laws of Fla. | Landlord may not interrupt utilities (water, heat, light, electricity, gas, elevator, garbage, refrigeration), change locks or use a bootlock, remove doors/windows/locks, or remove the tenant's property except after surrender, abandonment, or lawful eviction. Tenant recovers the greater of actual and consequential damages or 3 months' rent, plus costs and attorney's fees. Fla. Stat. § 83.67 |
| Georgia | Before filing a dispossessory affidavit for unpaid rent, late fees, utilities, or other charges, the landlord must give the tenant a notice to vacate or pay all past-due amounts within three business days. The notice must be posted in a sealed envelope conspicuously on the door of the property AND delivered by any additional method(s) agreed upon in the rental agreement. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(c), (d) (as amended by HB 404, 2024 Safe at Home Act, Act 392) | No statutory cure period. Landlord must demand possession before filing for eviction, and lease notice terms must be followed. For leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024, the demand for possession must be posted in a sealed envelope conspicuously on the door of the property and also delivered by any additional method agreed in the lease. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(a), (d) (as amended by HB 404, 2024) | Self-help eviction is illegal: landlord cannot remove a tenant or block access without the court dispossessory process. A landlord may not knowingly and willfully suspend a tenant's utility service before the final disposition of a dispossessory case the landlord has filed against that tenant; 'utilities' means cooling, heat, light, and water service. Violation is a crime punishable by a fine of up to $500. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-14.1 (definition amended by HB 404, 2024); Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (DCA, rev. 8-29-24), pp. 7, 12, 17 |
| Hawaii | From Feb. 5, 2026: written notice of at least 10 calendar days to pay, on a form with required contents, with a copy provided to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant schedules mediation within the 10 days, the landlord may not file until 20 calendar days after the tenant received the notice (unless the tenant skips or cancels mediation), and the landlord must participate. HRS § 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, SLH 2025) | Written notice giving at least 10 days to remedy a material noncompliance with tenant obligations (§ 521-51) or a breach of a building rule (§ 521-72). No cure period if the breach causes or threatens irremediable damage to a person or property. HRS §§ 521-69(a), 521-72(a) | Lockout: if the landlord removes or excludes the tenant overnight without cause or court order, the tenant may recover possession or terminate and recover 2 months' rent (or 2 months' free occupancy) plus costs and attorney's fees. Utility shutoff: landlord may not wilfully interrupt water, hot water, electric, gas, or other essential service to regain possession; it is an unfair and deceptive practice with minimum damages of the greater of 3 times the monthly rent or $1,000. HRS §§ 521-63(c), 521-74.5 |
| Idaho | 3 days' written notice demanding payment of the amount due or possession. The notice must state the amount due and the tenant's post-judgment removal period (72 hours for residential tenants). Notice may be served within one year after rent is due. Idaho Code § 6-303(2) | 3 days' written notice requiring performance or possession; tenant may cure within the 3 days. No cure notice is needed if the breached covenant cannot later be performed. Assigning/subletting or committing waste contrary to the lease terminates it (3-day notice to quit). Controlled-substance activity: 3-day notice with no right to cure. Idaho Code § 6-303(3)-(5) | Self-help eviction is unlawful: a landlord may not shut off utilities, change locks, confiscate the tenant's property, or do anything other than file a lawful eviction. A party who recovers damages for forcible or unlawful entry or detainer may be awarded up to three times actual damages. Idaho AG Manual 'Unlawful Evictions'; Idaho Code § 6-317 |
| Illinois | Written demand giving not less than 5 days after service to pay; if unpaid, landlord may end the lease and file for eviction. To keep partial payments from invalidating the notice, it must state that only FULL PAYMENT waives the right to terminate. 735 ILCS 5/9-209 | 10 days' written notice to quit after default in any lease term (other than rent). 735 ILCS 5/9-210 | Self-help eviction not allowed: a landlord must go to court and may not evict by turning off utilities, locking the tenant out, changing locks, or removing belongings; only a sheriff may physically evict. Illinois AG fact sheet 'The Eviction Process' |
| Indiana | Not less than 10 days' notice to pay or vacate, unless the parties agreed otherwise or the tenant pays in full within the notice period. IC 32-31-1-6, 32-31-1-7 | No statute — Indiana law sets no notice period for ending a tenancy over a lease violation other than unpaid rent; the lease terms govern. No notice is needed at all when a fixed-term lease ends on its stated date, a tenant at will commits waste, or the tenant is a tenant at sufferance (IC 32-31-1-8). IC 32-31-1-1 to 32-31-1-22 (chapter checked); IC 32-31-1-8; IC 32-31-7-7 | Except by court order, landlord may not change locks, remove doors/windows/fixtures/appliances, or interrupt or shut off electricity, gas, water or other essential services (emergencies, good-faith repairs and necessary construction excepted), and may not seize or withhold tenant property to enforce rent. Tenant may petition for an emergency possessory order; the court must hold a hearing within 3 business days and may order possession restored, plus damages at a later hearing. IC 32-31-5-5, 32-31-5-6; IC 32-31-6-3, 32-31-6-5, 32-31-6-6, 32-31-6-9 |
| Iowa | 3 days' written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intent to terminate if rent is not paid within that period. After that notice, no separate 3-day notice to quit is required before filing. Iowa Code § 562A.27(2); § 648.3(1) | 7 days' written notice specifying the breach; the lease terminates if the breach is not remedied within 7 days. A repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months allows termination on 7 days' notice without a right to cure. For a clear and present danger to others, a single 3-day notice of termination and notice to quit. Iowa Code § 562A.27(1); § 562A.27A | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession (or terminate the lease) and recover actual damages, punitive damages up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees. Iowa Code § 562A.26 |
| Kansas | 3 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates (three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting; add 2 days if mailed). Before filing, a 3-day notice to leave the premises is also required; it may be combined with the RLTA notice. K.S.A. 58-2564(b); K.S.A. 61-3803 | Written notice that the lease will terminate on a date at least 30 days after receipt unless the breach is remedied within 14 days. If the same or a similar breach recurs after the 14-day period, the landlord may give a 30-day termination notice with no opportunity to cure. K.S.A. 58-2564(a) | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the lease and recover the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages. K.S.A. 58-2563 |
| Kentucky | URLTA areas: 7 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates. Non-URLTA areas: no statutory pre-filing notice period for nonpayment was found; terms are governed by the lease. KRS 383.660(2) | URLTA areas: written notice specifying the breach; lease terminates on a date at least 14 days after receipt if not remedied (statute says 'remedied in fifteen (15) days'). A repeat within 6 months allows termination on 14 days' notice without cure. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.660(1) | URLTA areas: if the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts heat, water, hot water, electric, gas or other essential service, the tenant may recover possession or terminate and recover up to 3 months' rent plus reasonable attorney fees. Statewide: a landlord's entry on the possession of a tenant at will or by sufferance is a forcible entry, remediable through a forcible entry and detainer action in District Court. KRS 383.655; KRS 383.200(2)(b), 383.210 |
| Louisiana | Written notice to vacate giving at least 5 days from delivery. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are not counted in a period this short, so in practice the tenant gets 5 business days. The lease may waive the notice, and many standard leases do. La. C.C.P. arts. 4701, 5059(C)(3); La. R.S. 1:55(E); La. C.C. art. 2704 | Same 5-day written notice to vacate (waivable in the lease) once the lease is dissolved for the breach. No statutory cure period. La. C.C. art. 2686; La. C.C.P. art. 4701 | Self-help eviction is not authorized. A landlord must use the court process (notice to vacate, rule to show cause, judgment, and a warrant executed by the sheriff, constable or marshal). The only exception is a reasonable belief that the tenant abandoned the premises. A landlord who locks out the tenant or removes belongings may be liable for wrongful-eviction damages. La. C.C.P. arts. 4701, 4731-4734; La. C.C. art. 2682 |
| Maine | 7-day written notice to quit (tenancy at will) when rent is 7 or more days in arrears. Paying the full rent due before the notice expires voids it. After expiration, paying all arrears, rent due to date, and the landlord's filing and service fees before the writ of possession issues reinstates the tenancy. 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1)(C), (1), (2) | Tenancy at will: 7-day written notice for specified causes - substantial unrepaired damage, nuisance/making the unit unfit/violation of law, domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking against another tenant, violence or threats against other tenants/guests/landlord, or an unauthorized occupant. The statutory cure/reinstatement right in § 6002 applies to the rent-arrears ground. For written leases, the lease terms govern; if a lease has no termination provision for material breach, § 6001(1-B) allows termination under § 6002 procedures. 14 M.R.S. §§ 6002(1)(A)-(F), 6001(1-B) | Self-help eviction is illegal: a landlord may not willfully interrupt utilities (water, heat, electricity, gas, etc.), lock the tenant out, or seize the tenant's property except by judicial process. Remedy: actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. 14 M.R.S. § 6014 |
| Maryland | Before filing a failure-to-pay-rent case, the landlord must give the tenant written notice of intent to file (Maryland Judiciary form DC-CV-115) giving the tenant 10 days to pay. Notice may be sent by first-class mail with certificate of mailing, affixed to the door, or (if the tenant elected it) by email, text, or tenant portal with proof of transmission. The complaint must state the date notice was given. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(c) | 30 days' written notice that the tenant is in violation of the lease and that the landlord wants to repossess; 14 days' written notice if the breach involves behavior showing a clear and imminent danger of serious harm. The court may evict only if it finds the breach was substantial and warrants eviction. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402.1(a)(1), (b)(1) | Prohibited. A landlord may not take or threaten to take possession by locking out the tenant, willfully cutting heat, running water, hot water, electricity, or gas to force the tenant out, or by any other action. Possession may be taken only under a court warrant of restitution executed by a sheriff or constable, or after abandonment/surrender. Remedy: actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs; other remedies also available. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-216 |
| Massachusetts | 14 days' written notice to quit. For tenants at will: a tenant who has not received a similar notice in the previous 12 months can cure by paying the full rent due within 10 days after receiving the notice, and the notice must state this right. For tenants with a lease: the tenant can cure by paying all rent due, plus interest and costs, on or before the day the answer is due in the eviction case. G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12, 31 | No single statutory period. Tenancy at will: the landlord generally ends it with a written notice to quit of at least 30 days (or one rental period, if longer) that expires at the end of a rental period, stating the lease violation as the reason. Unexpired lease: the lease itself controls the grounds for termination and the notice required. G.L. c. 186, § 12; Massachusetts Court System guidance | Illegal. A landlord who willfully fails to provide required utilities or services (heat, hot water, water, light, power, gas, elevator); interferes with them; shifts utility costs to the tenant without consent; interferes with quiet enjoyment; or tries to regain possession by force without court process faces: a criminal fine of $25-$300 or up to 6 months' imprisonment; and civil liability for actual and consequential damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney's fees. A tenant removed or excluded without a valid court order may get back into the unit or end the lease, and may recover 3 months' rent or 3x actual damages, plus costs and attorney's fees. G.L. c. 186, §§ 14, 15F |
| Michigan | 7 days: written demand for possession (or written notice to quit) for nonpayment of rent before filing MCL 600.5714(1)(a); MCL 554.134(2); MCL 600.5716; MCL 600.5718 | No single statutory period. If the lease allows termination for the violation, the lease's notice term controls; for a month-to-month or no-written-lease tenancy, a notice to quit of one rental period (generally 1 month) is used. Shorter statutory periods apply to certain conduct: 24 hours (drug activity with lease clause and police report), 7 days (serious continuing health hazard or extensive continuing physical damage; violence/threats with police notified). MCL 600.5714(1)(b)-(e); MCL 554.134(1),(4) | Self-help eviction is prohibited. Landlord may not use force or threats, remove/retain/destroy the tenant's property, change locks without immediately providing keys, board up, remove doors/windows/locks, interrupt essential services (heat, running water, hot water, electric, gas) amounting to constructive eviction, or introduce noise/odor/nuisance. Tenant may recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; unlawful forcible ejection allows 3 times actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. MCL 600.2918(1)-(2) |
| Minnesota | Before filing an eviction for nonpayment of rent (residential), the landlord must deliver a written notice giving the tenant 14 days to pay. The notice must state the total due, an itemized accounting (rent, late fees, other charges), who is authorized to receive payment and where, and required statements about legal help and rental assistance. Delivery is personal or by first-class mail to the rental address. Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a | No statutory notice or cure period. If the tenant has breached lease terms not involving rent or another financial obligation, the landlord generally does not have to give notice before filing, unless the lease requires notice. Minn. Stat. § 504B.285, subd. 1 | Self-help eviction is illegal. A landlord who unlawfully and in bad faith locks out or excludes a residential tenant is liable for triple damages or $500, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees. A landlord may not interrupt electricity, heat, gas, or water. Penalty: triple damages or $500, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees. Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.231, 504B.221, 504B.225, 504B.375 |
| Mississippi | 3 days. The landlord may give written notice (or email/text, if the tenant agreed in writing to be notified that way) that the rental agreement will end if the rent is not paid within three days. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-13(5)(a) | 14 days to cure. The written notice must describe the breach and say the agreement will end on a date at least 14 days after the tenant receives it unless the breach is fixed within a reasonable time of no more than 14 days. If substantially the same breach happens again within 6 months, the agreement can be ended on at least 14 days' written notice with no chance to cure. No notice at all is required for a substantial violation that materially affects health or safety. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-13(3), 89-8-19(4) | The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act has no express ban on self-help lockouts or utility shutoffs and no damages remedy for them. The Act provides a court eviction process (§§ 89-8-31 to 89-8-39), and only a sheriff or constable may remove the tenant, under a warrant of removal issued after the move-out date. Since 2025, posting the warrant on the door does not count as executing it; law enforcement must remove the occupants. New in 2026: HB 1404 (approved March 25, 2026) makes it a crime to knowingly fail to apply tenant money collected under a lease for utilities to the utility bill within 60 days of receiving the bill. Penalties run from up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine, up to 20 years or a $50,000 fine, depending on the amount, plus restitution. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-31, 89-8-39(2) (as amended by Laws 2025, ch. 460); 2026 HB 1404 (Code section not yet assigned in the sources reviewed) |
| Missouri | No fixed pay-or-quit notice period. Landlord must demand the rent; if it is unpaid, landlord may file a rent-and-possession statement. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required before filing. RSMo 535.020 | 10 days' notice to vacate for breach of a written lease condition, unauthorized assignment/sublet, or waste (violations of 441.030), and for illegal use under 441.020 (gambling, bawdyhouse, controlled substances). The statute provides no right to cure. RSMo 441.030, 441.040, 441.020 | Prohibited. A landlord who removes or excludes a tenant or the tenant's property without judicial process and court order, or removes doors or locks, is guilty of forcible entry and detainer. The same applies to willfully interrupting essential services (electric, gas, water, sewer) unless done for health or safety reasons. Tenant can sue under Ch. 534, which awards double damages and double monthly rents/profits until restitution. RSMo 441.233; 534.330 |
| Montana | 3 days' written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; agreement terminates if rent is not paid within 3 days. Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-422(2) | General noncompliance: 14 days' written notice (agreement ends unless remedied). 3 days for unauthorized pet, unauthorized persons residing in the unit, verbal abuse of the landlord, destroying/damaging the premises, or creating a reasonable potential for damage or harm to others. Repeat of substantially the same act within 6 months: at least 5 days. Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-422(1), (3), (4) | Self-help eviction prohibited: landlord may not recover possession except by court action (or after abandonment/surrender), and may not purposefully cut heat, water, hot water, electricity, gas, or other essential services. Tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover up to 3 months' periodic rent or treble damages, whichever is greater. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-428, 70-24-411 |
| Nebraska | 7 calendar days' written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; landlord may terminate if rent is not paid within that time. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(2) | Written notice of a material breach or breach affecting health and safety: tenant has 14 days to remedy, and the agreement terminates on a date at least 30 days after receipt of notice if not remedied. Repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months: termination on at least 14 days' written notice (no cure). Violent criminal activity, illegal drug sales, or other activity threatening health/safety: 5 days' written notice, no right to cure. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(1), (4) | Prohibited. If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water, or other essential service, the tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover an amount equal to three months' periodic rent as liquidated damages plus a reasonable attorney's fee. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1430 |
| Nevada | Written notice to pay rent or surrender by the close of business on the 7th judicial day after service (summary eviction). For rent reserved weekly or less where the tenancy has lasted 45 days or less: by noon on the 4th full day after service. NRS 40.253(1) | 5 days' notice to perform the lease condition (cure) or surrender; if not cured within 5 days the tenant is guilty of unlawful detainer. If the violation cannot be cured, no cure notice is required. NRS 40.2516(1); NRS 40.251(1)(b)(2); NRS 40.254 | Prohibited. If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts (or causes/permits interruption of) any essential item or service, the tenant may recover immediate possession, actual damages, and/or an amount up to $2,500 fixed by the court. NRS 118A.390 |
| New Hampshire | 7-day written eviction notice (plus a demand for rent), stating the reason with specificity and telling the tenant of the right to avoid eviction by paying arrears. RSA 540:3, II-IV; RSA 540:2, II(a); RSA 540:5 | 30-day written eviction notice for breach of a material lease term or other good cause; 7 days for substantial damage to the premises, conduct affecting health or safety, or (in certain domestic-violence cases) a remaining cotenant accused of abuse. RSA 540:3, II; RSA 540:2, II-III | Prohibited. Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate any utility (even one it doesn't control), except temporarily for repairs or emergencies, and may not lock out or deny access to the tenant or the tenant's property except by judicial process. RSA 540-A:3, I-III; RSA 540-A:4; RSA 358-A:10 |
| New Jersey | No notice to quit is required before filing for nonpayment of rent. The written notice requirement of N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 expressly excludes nonpayment (and failure to pay a valid rent increase). The tenant can stop the case by paying the rent claimed plus accrued costs to the court clerk on or before entry of final judgment. After a warrant of removal is posted, or a lockout is carried out, for nonpayment, the tenant has 3 business days to pay all rent due. The landlord must accept that payment (cash, certified check, money order, or a rental-assistance program or charity) and the case is then dismissed. N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2, 2A:18-55, 2A:42-10.16a, 46:8-49.3 | Disorderly conduct: a written notice to cease, then a 3-day notice to quit. Willful or grossly negligent damage to the premises: a 3-day notice to quit. Continued substantial violation of reasonable rules or lease covenants, or habitual late payment of rent: a written notice to cease, then a one-month notice to quit. Drug, assault, theft, or human-trafficking grounds: a 3-day notice. Notices must state the cause in detail and be served personally, at the residence on a family member over 14, or by certified mail (regular mail if the certified letter is not claimed). N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(b)-(e), (j), (n)-(r); 2A:18-61.2(a)-(b) | Self-help eviction is illegal. A residence may be entered or retaken without the occupant's consent only through legal eviction process, and only a court officer may execute a warrant for possession. It is a disorderly persons offense, after a warning from police or another official, to take possession without a lawful warrant, including by changing or padlocking locks, removing belongings, or shutting off heat, electricity, water, or other vital services. A second offense within 5 years is a fourth-degree crime. A displaced tenant may re-enter with a police officer present. In a civil action, the tenant can recover possession, all damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, or treble damages if return to possession is not appropriate. N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1, 2A:39-2, 2A:39-8; 2C:33-11.1; 2A:42-10.16 |
| New Mexico | 3-day written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate. Tender of the full amount due, in the manner stated in the notice, before the 3 days expire bars an action for nonpayment. NMSA 1978, § 47-8-33(D) | First material noncompliance: 7-day written notice to cure (tenancy ends in not less than 7 days if not remedied). Second material noncompliance within 6 months: 7-day notice to terminate with no right to cure. Substantial violation (serious criminal-type conduct): 3-day notice to terminate with no cure. NMSA 1978, § 47-8-33(A)-(C), (I) | Without a court order, an owner may not exclude or remove a resident by fraud, changing/plugging locks, blocking entrances, interfering with utilities or services, removing belongings, disabling appliances, or making the unit inaccessible/uninhabitable. Resident may abate 100% of rent for each affected day, recover a civil penalty of 2x monthly rent, recover possession or terminate, and get damages. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-36, 47-8-48(C) |
| New York | 14-day written rent demand before filing a nonpayment proceeding. Separately, if rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a certified-mail notice that rent was not received; failure is an affirmative defense to a nonpayment case. N.Y. RPAPL § 711(2); N.Y. RPL § 235-e(d) | No general statewide statutory cure-notice period (lease terms govern). Where Good Cause Eviction applies, the tenant must be given written notice and 10 days to cure a substantial lease violation before eviction on that ground. In any lease-breach eviction case, the court must grant a 30-day stay of the warrant during which the tenant may cure. N.Y. RPL § 216 (Good Cause); N.Y. RPAPL § 753(4) | Self-help eviction is illegal: no force/threats, cutting off essential services, removing belongings or the door, or changing/disabling locks to remove an occupant who has lived there 30+ days or has a lease. Owner must restore the occupant. Penalties: class A misdemeanor; civil penalty of $1,000-$10,000 per violation plus up to $100/day (max 6 months) for failing to restore. N.Y. RPAPL § 768; RPL § 235 (willful failure to furnish water, heat, light, power, etc.) |
| North Carolina | If the lease has no forfeiture (re-entry) clause for nonpayment, the landlord must make a demand for all past-due rent and wait 10 days before the term is forfeited. If the lease has such a clause, the statute requires no pre-filing notice. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-3; § 42-26(a)(2) | No statutory cure or notice period. Eviction for a lease violation is allowed only if the lease provides that the tenant's estate ends (forfeiture/re-entry clause) on that breach. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-26(a)(2) | Residential tenants may be removed only through the court summary ejectment process; actual or constructive removal (e.g., lockouts, utility cutoffs) is prohibited. Tenant may recover possession or terminate the lease, plus actual damages (no punitive or treble damages). N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-25.6, 42-25.9(a) |
| North Dakota | Rent must be more than 3 days past due; then the landlord must serve a 3-day written notice of intention to evict before filing. N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01(4), 47-32-02 | 3-day written notice of intention to evict for violation of a material term of a written lease. No statutory cure right. N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01(8), 47-32-02 | ND Attorney General: 'The landlord cannot lock you out, cut off the utilities, or confiscate your belongings.' Eviction requires a court order. ND Attorney General tenant rights page; N.D.C.C. ch. 47-32 |
| Ohio | 3-day written notice to leave the premises before filing an eviction (forcible entry and detainer) action. The residential notice must conspicuously state: "You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you. If you are in doubt regarding your legal rights and obligations as a tenant, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance." Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04 | For a tenant's failure to meet obligations under § 5321.05 that materially affects health and safety, the landlord may give written notice specifying the problem and a termination date at least 30 days after receipt; if not remedied, the rental agreement ends. The 3-day notice to leave (§ 1923.04) is then required before filing. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.11 | Landlord may not recover possession by cutting off utilities or services, excluding the tenant (lockout), or threatening unlawful acts, and may not seize the tenant's belongings to collect rent without a court order. Landlord is liable for all damages plus reasonable attorney's fees. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.15 |
| Oklahoma | 5 days' written notice demanding payment. If rent is not paid within 5 days after the notice, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. The demand counts as a demand for possession; no further notice to quit is required. 41 O.S. § 131 | Material noncompliance: written notice stating a termination date at least 15 days after receipt; tenant has 10 days to remedy, otherwise the lease ends on the stated date. A repeat breach allows immediate termination on written notice. Imminent, irremediable harm or criminal / drug-related activity allows immediate termination by filing forcible entry and detainer. 41 O.S. § 132(B)-(D) | Self-help eviction prohibited in effect: if a landlord wrongfully removes or excludes the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover the greater of twice the average monthly rent or twice actual damages. If the landlord willfully or negligently cuts essential services, tenant may terminate, buy substitute services and deduct, recover diminished rental value damages, or obtain substitute housing excused from rent. 41 O.S. § 123; 41 O.S. § 121(C) |
| Oregon | Week-to-week: at least 72 hours' written notice, served no sooner than the 5th day of the rental period. Other tenancies: either at least 10 days' notice served no sooner than the 8th day of the rental period, or at least 13 days' notice served no sooner than the 5th day. Notice must state the amount due and the deadline to pay. ORS 90.394 | At least 30 days' written notice. If the violation is curable, the notice must say so and give at least 14 days to cure. Repeat of substantially the same violation within 6 months: at least 10 days' notice, no cure right. Week-to-week: 7 days / 4-day cure / 4 days for repeats. ORS 90.392 | If the landlord unlawfully removes/excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts utilities or essential services, the tenant may obtain an injunction to regain possession, or terminate and recover the greater of 2 months' periodic rent or twice actual damages; deposits and prepaid rent must be returned. ORS 90.375 |
| Pennsylvania | 10-day written notice to quit. Act § 501(b) (68 P.S. § 250.501(b)) | Lease of 1 year or less or indeterminate term: 15 days' notice to quit. Lease of more than 1 year: 30 days. Illegal-drug grounds under § 505-A: 10 days. Act §§ 501(b), 501(d), 505-A (68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.505-A) | Self-help eviction is prohibited: a landlord may not change locks or shut off utilities to evict; the landlord must use the court process. PA AG Consumer Guide (Part V.C); Landlord and Tenant Act Art. V |
| Rhode Island | Once rent is 15 days in arrears, landlord may mail a written demand; tenant has 5 days from mailing to pay or the rental agreement terminates. Landlord may file no earlier than the 6th day after mailing. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-35 | Written notice identifying the breach and the remedy, giving 20 days from mailing to cure and a termination date at least 21 days after mailing. Repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months: at least 20 days' notice with no right to cure. No notice needed for violations of § 34-18-24(8)-(10). R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-36 | Self-help eviction prohibited, including cutting heat, water, hot water, electricity, gas or other essential services. Tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover the greater of up to 3 months' periodic rent or three times actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-44, 34-18-34 |
| South Carolina | If rent is unpaid and not paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord may terminate after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate. If the written lease contains the statutory notice language in bold, conspicuous type, the lease itself serves as the notice. S.C. Code § 27-40-710(B); § 27-37-10(B) | Written notice specifying the breach; rental agreement terminates on a date at least 14 days after receipt unless the tenant cures within 14 days. S.C. Code § 27-40-710(A) | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully diminishes/interrupts essential services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover the greater of 3 months' periodic rent or twice actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees. S.C. Code § 27-40-660 |
| South Dakota | No statutory notice to quit. The landlord may file a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) action once rent has been unpaid for three days after it is due. The first legal step is filing and serving a verified complaint and summons. SDCL 21-16-1(4); SDCL 21-16-6; SDCL 21-16-2 (repealed) | No statutory notice or cure period. An FED action lies when the tenant commits waste or does or fails to do an act that terminates the lease under its terms. The landlord may also end the lease early if the tenant uses the premises contrary to the lease or does not make required repairs within a reasonable time after a request. SDCL 21-16-1(7); SDCL 43-32-18 | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water, or other essential service, the tenant may sue for an injunction, recover possession, or end the lease. In any of these cases the tenant also recovers damages equal to two months' rent plus return of any advance rent and deposit. SDCL 43-32-6 |
| Tennessee | 14 days. URLTA counties: written notice that the lease will end unless the rent is paid within 14 days after the tenant receives the notice. The tenant can cure by paying. Notice may be waived only by a waiver in 12-point or larger bold type in the lease, and the 5-day late-fee grace period still applies. Non-URLTA counties: 14 days' notice for rent that is due and in arrears, upon demand. The lease does not end if the tenant pays before the date in the notice. T.C.A. 66-28-505(a)(2), (b); 66-28-201(c); 66-7-109(a) | URLTA counties: (1) a breach that can be fixed by paying money or repairs: 14 days to cure, or the lease ends; (2) any other material breach: termination no less than 14 days after the tenant receives notice; (3) the same breach again within 6 months: 7 days' written notice; (4) violent acts, real and present danger, hazardous or unsanitary conditions, or an unauthorized occupant who refuses to leave: termination 3 days after the tenant receives written notice. Non-URLTA counties: 14 days for damage beyond normal wear and tear (curable) or for violent or dangerous behavior; 30 days for all other lease defaults; 3 days for violent acts, drug-related criminal activity, or dangerous behavior (except tenants who are mentally or physically disabled). T.C.A. 66-28-505(a); 66-28-517(a); 66-7-109(a), (b), (d) | URLTA counties: if a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully cuts essential services required by the lease, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover actual damages, punitive damages when appropriate, and reasonable attorney's fees. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and deposits. T.C.A. 66-28-504; 66-28-517(d) |
| Texas | At least 3 days' written notice to vacate before filing, unless the written lease provides a shorter or longer period. For a tenant evicted solely for nonpayment who was not delinquent before the month of the notice, the notice must be a notice to pay rent or vacate. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 24.005(a) | Same 3-day written notice to vacate as for other defaults, unless the lease provides otherwise. No statutory right to cure. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 24.005(a) | Landlord may not intentionally exclude a tenant except by judicial process, with narrow exceptions including a lock change for rent delinquency if allowed by the lease and preceded by written notice (5 days if mailed, 3 days if hand-delivered/posted), and a new key must be available 24 hours a day regardless of payment. Remedy: possession or termination, plus one month's rent + $1,000, actual damages, costs and attorney's fees. Interrupting utilities (except for repairs, construction, emergency, or authorized submetered electric cutoffs) carries the same one month's rent + $1,000 remedy. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.0081; Sec. 92.008 |
| Utah | 3 business days' written notice to pay rent and other amounts due or surrender the premises. Utah Code 78B-6-802(1)(c) | 3 calendar days' written notice to perform the lease condition or surrender (cure allowed). 3 calendar days' notice to quit (no cure) for unauthorized assignment/subletting, waste, unlawful business, nuisance, or a criminal act on the premises. Utah Code 78B-6-802(1)(d)-(h) | Unlawful for an owner to willfully exclude a tenant from the premises in any manner except by judicial process (abandoned premises excepted). Utah Courts guidance: without a court order a landlord cannot change the locks, turn off utilities, or take the tenant's belongings. Utah Code 78B-6-814 |
| Vermont | Written notice of termination at least 14 days after actual notice. The tenancy does not terminate if the tenant pays or tenders all rent due through the end of the rental period in which payment is made. 9 V.S.A. 4467(a) | Breach of the rental agreement or tenant obligations: at least 30 days' notice. Criminal activity, illegal drug activity, or acts of violence threatening other residents' health or safety: at least 14 days' notice. 9 V.S.A. 4467(b) | Landlord may not willfully interrupt or terminate a tenant's utility service (except for temporary emergency repairs), or deny access to the premises or the tenant's property, except by proper judicial process. Tenant may sue for injunctive relief, damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees. 9 V.S.A. 4463; 4464 |
| Virginia | 14-day written pay-or-quit notice. Va. Code 55.1-1245(F) | Remediable breach: 21 days to remedy, lease terminates not less than 30 days after notice if not remedied. Non-remediable breach: termination not less than 30 days after notice; immediate termination for non-remediable criminal or willful acts threatening health or safety. Repeat breach of like nature: 30-day termination notice without cure. Va. Code 55.1-1245(A)-(E) | Willful unlawful removal/exclusion of a tenant or interruption of an essential service without court authority: tenant may recover actual damages plus statutory damages of $5,000 or four months' rent, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees; court may order return to the unit and restoration of services. Va. Code 55.1-1243.1 |
| Washington | 14-day notice to pay rent or vacate, in the statutory form. RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057 | 10-day notice to comply or vacate. RCW 59.12.030(4); RCW 59.18.650(2)(b) | Landlord may not remove or exclude a tenant except under a court order; tenant may recover possession or terminate, plus actual damages, costs and attorney's fees. Intentionally terminating a tenant's utility services is unlawful: actual damages plus up to $100 for each day or part of a day without service, plus costs and fees. RCW 59.18.290; RCW 59.18.300 |
| West Virginia | No pre-filing notice required by statute. Landlord may file a verified petition for summary relief for rent arrears directly in magistrate or circuit court. W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1(a) | No pre-filing notice required by statute for summary relief based on breach of a warranty or leasehold covenant, or on deliberate/negligent damage to the property. W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1(a) | Not verified yet |
| Wisconsin | Month-to-month/week-to-week: 5-day pay-or-vacate notice, or (month-to-month only) a 14-day notice to vacate with no right to cure. Lease of 1 year or less: 5-day pay-or-vacate; if the tenant was late within the past year, a 14-day notice to vacate. Lease over 1 year: 30-day notice to pay. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a), (2)(a), (3)(a) | Periodic tenants and leases of 1 year or less: 5-day notice to remedy or vacate; for a repeat breach within one year, a 14-day notice to vacate with no cure. Lease over 1 year: 30-day notice to comply. Criminal or drug-related activity: 5-day notice to vacate, no cure. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(b), (2)(b), (3)(a), (3m) | Prohibited. Landlords may not exclude, forcibly evict, or constructively evict a tenant (including by cutting off heat, water, or electricity) except through ch. 799 court eviction. They also may not seize the tenant's property. A lease clause authorizing non-judicial eviction voids the lease. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(4), (7); Wis. Stat. § 704.44(2m) |
| Wyoming | 3-day notice to quit. FED is allowed after rent is 3 days past due, and the written notice to leave must be served at least 3 days before the action is filed. W.S. 1-21-1002(a)(i), 1-21-1003 | 3-day notice to quit, with no statutory right to cure. FED is available against renters who violate the duties in W.S. 1-21-1204 or the prohibitions in 1-21-1205 (damage, interfering with others' peaceful enjoyment, unreasonably denying access). W.S. 1-21-1002(a)(vi), 1-21-1003, 1-21-1204, 1-21-1205 | No statute — Wyoming has no law that expressly bans landlord lockouts or utility shutoffs. The statutes provide a court process instead: a landlord who wants a tenant out files a forcible entry and detainer (FED) case, and after judgment an officer executes the writ of restitution; only then may the sheriff remove the renter's belongings and prevent reentry. W.S. 1-21-1001 to 1-21-1017, 1-21-1211(a) (Title 1, Ch. 21, Arts. 10 and 12 checked) |
Eviction court, fees and help by county
- Alabama: Jefferson County (Birmingham, Bessemer), Mobile County (Mobile), Madison County (Huntsville), Montgomery County (Montgomery), Tuscaloosa County (Tuscaloosa)
- Alaska: Municipality of Anchorage
- Arizona: Maricopa County (Phoenix), Pima County (Tucson), Pinal County (Casa Grande, Maricopa, San Tan Valley), Yavapai County (Prescott)
- Arkansas: Pulaski County (Little Rock), Washington County (Fayetteville), Benton County (Bentonville)
- California: Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Long Beach), San Diego County (San Diego), Orange County (Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine), Santa Clara County (San Jose), Alameda County (Oakland, Fremont, Hayward), San Bernardino County (San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga), Riverside County (Riverside, Moreno Valley), Sacramento County (Sacramento), City and County of San Francisco, Fresno County (Fresno), Contra Costa County (Concord, Richmond, Antioch), Kern County (Bakersfield), San Mateo County (San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City), Ventura County (Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Ventura), San Joaquin County (Stockton), Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria, Santa Barbara), Stanislaus County (Modesto), Monterey County (Salinas), Tulare County (Visalia), Solano County (Vallejo), San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo), Placer County (Roseville), Merced County (Merced), Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz), Marin County (San Rafael), Butte County (Chico), Yolo County (Davis)
- Colorado: City and County of Denver, El Paso County (Colorado Springs), Arapahoe County (Aurora / Centennial / Littleton), Jefferson County (Lakewood / Golden / Arvada), Adams County (Brighton / Thornton / Westminster), Larimer County (Fort Collins / Loveland), Boulder County (Boulder / Longmont), Douglas County (Castle Rock / Highlands Ranch / Parker), Weld County (Greeley)
- Delaware: New Castle County (Wilmington)
- Florida: Miami-Dade County (Miami), Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Orange County (Orlando), Hillsborough County (Tampa), Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach), Duval County (Jacksonville), Pinellas County (St. Petersburg / Clearwater), Polk County (Lakeland), Lee County (Fort Myers), Volusia County (Daytona Beach), Seminole County (Sanford), Brevard County (Melbourne), Leon County (Tallahassee), Pasco County (New Port Richey), Alachua County (Gainesville), Osceola County (Kissimmee), Sarasota County (Sarasota), Escambia County (Pensacola), Manatee County (Bradenton), Collier County (Naples), Marion County (Ocala), Lake County (Tavares), St. Lucie County (Port St. Lucie)
- Georgia: Fulton County (Atlanta), DeKalb County (Decatur), Gwinnett County (Lawrenceville), Cobb County (Marietta), Chatham County (Savannah), Clayton County (Jonesboro), Muscogee County (Columbus), Richmond County (Augusta), Clarke County (Athens), Bibb County (Macon)
- Hawaii: Honolulu County (City and County of Honolulu, Oʻahu)
- Idaho: Ada County (Boise)
- Illinois: Cook County (Chicago), DuPage County (Wheaton), Lake County (Waukegan), Kane County (Aurora / Elgin / Geneva), Will County (Joliet), Winnebago County (Rockford), Champaign County (Champaign / Urbana), St. Clair County (Belleville / East St. Louis), Madison County (Edwardsville / Granite City / Alton)
- Indiana: Marion County (Indianapolis), Lake County (Gary, Hammond), Allen County (Fort Wayne), Tippecanoe County (Lafayette, West Lafayette), St. Joseph County (South Bend, Mishawaka), Hamilton County (Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville), Vanderburgh County (Evansville), Monroe County (Bloomington)
- Iowa: Polk County (Des Moines)
- Kansas: Johnson County (Olathe / Overland Park), Sedgwick County (Wichita)
- Kentucky: Jefferson County (Louisville), Fayette County (Lexington)
- Louisiana: Orleans Parish (New Orleans), East Baton Rouge Parish (Baton Rouge), Jefferson Parish (Metairie), Caddo Parish (Shreveport), Lafayette Parish (Lafayette)
- Maine: Cumberland County (Portland)
- Maryland: Montgomery County (Rockville, Silver Spring), Baltimore City, Prince George's County (Upper Marlboro, Hyattsville), Baltimore County (Towson), Anne Arundel County (Annapolis), Howard County (Ellicott City)
- Massachusetts: Middlesex County (Cambridge / Lowell), Suffolk County (Boston), Worcester County (Worcester), Essex County (Lynn / Lawrence), Norfolk County (Quincy), Bristol County (New Bedford / Fall River), Hampden County (Springfield), Plymouth County (Brockton, Plymouth)
- Michigan: Wayne County (Detroit), Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy), Macomb County (Warren, Sterling Heights), Kent County (Grand Rapids), Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti), Genesee County (Flint), Ingham County (Lansing / East Lansing / Mason), Kalamazoo County (Kalamazoo / Portage)
- Minnesota: Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Ramsey County (St. Paul), Dakota County (Hastings, Apple Valley, West St. Paul)
- Mississippi: Hinds County (Jackson), Harrison County (Gulfport, Biloxi)
- Missouri: St. Louis County, Jackson County (Kansas City), St. Louis City, Greene County (Springfield), Boone County (Columbia), St. Charles County (St. Charles, O'Fallon, St. Peters), Clay County (Liberty, North Kansas City, part of Kansas City)
- Nebraska: Douglas County (Omaha), Lancaster County (Lincoln)
- Nevada: Clark County (Las Vegas), Washoe County (Reno, Sparks)
- New Hampshire: Hillsborough County (Manchester and Nashua), Rockingham County (Brentwood)
- New Jersey: Hudson County (Jersey City), Essex County (Newark), Bergen County (Hackensack), Middlesex County (New Brunswick), Union County (Elizabeth), Passaic County (Paterson), Camden County (Camden), Monmouth County (Freehold), Mercer County (Trenton), Morris County (Morristown), Ocean County (Toms River), Burlington County (Mount Holly), Atlantic County (Atlantic City), Somerset County (Somerville)
- New Mexico: Bernalillo County (Albuquerque), Doña Ana County (Las Cruces)
- New York: Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (Bronx County), Westchester County (Yonkers, White Plains), Erie County (Buffalo), Monroe County (Rochester), Suffolk County (Long Island), Nassau County (Long Island), Onondaga County (Syracuse), Albany County (Albany), Staten Island (Richmond County), Orange County (Newburgh, Middletown), Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie, Beacon), Rockland County, Oneida County (Utica, Rome), Broome County (Binghamton), Saratoga County (Saratoga Springs)
- North Carolina: Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), Wake County (Raleigh), Guilford County (Greensboro, High Point), Durham County (Durham), Cumberland County (Fayetteville), Forsyth County (Winston-Salem), New Hanover County (Wilmington), Pitt County (Greenville), Buncombe County (Asheville), Gaston County (Gastonia), Onslow County (Jacksonville)
- North Dakota: Cass County (Fargo)
- Ohio: Franklin County (Columbus), Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Montgomery County (Dayton), Summit County (Akron), Lucas County (Toledo), Stark County (Canton, Massillon, Alliance), Butler County (Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield), Lorain County (Elyria, Lorain), Mahoning County (Youngstown)
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City), Tulsa County (Tulsa), Cleveland County (Norman, Moore)
- Oregon: Multnomah County (Portland), Washington County (Hillsboro / Beaverton), Lane County (Eugene), Clackamas County (Oregon City), Marion County (Salem), Jackson County (Medford)
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County (Philadelphia), Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Montgomery County (Norristown), Delaware County (Media), Lancaster County (Lancaster), Bucks County (Doylestown), Chester County (West Chester), Lehigh County (Allentown), Berks County (Reading), Dauphin County (Harrisburg), Luzerne County (Wilkes-Barre), York County (York), Northampton County (Easton), Erie County (Erie), Westmoreland County (Greensburg), Lackawanna County (Scranton), Cumberland County (Carlisle)
- Rhode Island: Providence County (Providence)
- South Carolina: Greenville County (Greenville), Richland County (Columbia), Charleston County (Charleston, North Charleston), Horry County (Myrtle Beach), Spartanburg County (Spartanburg), York County (Rock Hill), Lexington County (Lexington)
- South Dakota: Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls)
- Tennessee: Shelby County (Memphis), Davidson County (Nashville), Knox County (Knoxville), Hamilton County (Chattanooga), Rutherford County (Murfreesboro), Montgomery County (Clarksville)
- Texas: Harris County (Houston), Dallas County (Dallas), Tarrant County (Fort Worth), Bexar County (San Antonio), Travis County (Austin), Collin County (Plano/McKinney), Denton County (Denton), El Paso County (El Paso), Hidalgo County (McAllen/Edinburg), Williamson County (Round Rock/Georgetown), Montgomery County (Conroe/The Woodlands), Fort Bend County (Sugar Land/Richmond), Bell County (Killeen/Temple), Lubbock County (Lubbock), Nueces County (Corpus Christi), Brazos County (Bryan/College Station), Cameron County (Brownsville/Harlingen), Galveston County (League City/Galveston), McLennan County (Waco), Hays County (San Marcos/Kyle), Jefferson County (Beaumont/Port Arthur), Brazoria County (Pearland/Angleton), Webb County (Laredo)
- Utah: Salt Lake County (Salt Lake City), Utah County (Provo)
- Virginia: Fairfax County, Arlington County, Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk, Henrico County, Alexandria, Prince William County, Newport News, Chesterfield County, Loudoun County
- Washington: King County (Seattle), Pierce County (Tacoma), Snohomish County (Everett), Spokane County (Spokane), Clark County (Vancouver), Thurston County (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater), Whatcom County (Bellingham), Yakima County (Yakima), Kitsap County (Bremerton, Port Orchard)
- Wisconsin: Milwaukee County (Milwaukee), Dane County (Madison), Waukesha County (Waukesha), Brown County (Green Bay)
How to evict a tenant: landlord guides by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently asked questions
Can my landlord evict me without going to court?
No. In virtually every state, only a court can order an eviction, and only a law-enforcement officer can carry it out. Lockouts, removing your belongings or cutting off utilities to force you out are illegal self-help evictions.
How long does an eviction take?
It depends on the state's notice period, how quickly the court schedules a hearing and whether the tenant contests the case. Uncontested cases can finish within a few weeks in fast states; contested cases or crowded courts can take months. See your state page for the notice period and court process.
Can I be evicted if I pay the rent I owe?
In many states, paying the full amount demanded within the notice period ends a nonpayment case. Whether a landlord must accept late payment after the notice expires, or after a case is filed, varies by state — check your state's rule.
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.