How long does an eviction take?
Short answer: It depends on the state's notice period, how fast the court schedules a hearing, and whether the tenant contests the case. Uncontested cases can finish in a few weeks in fast states; contested cases or crowded courts can take months.
The stages that set the timeline
- Notice period before the landlord can file (table below).
- Court scheduling — answer deadline and hearing date.
- Judgment and writ — most states give a short final window before an officer can remove the tenant.
- Appeals or stays, where allowed, add time.
For where cases are filed and what it costs in your area, see the county eviction pages linked from each state page.
The rule in every state
Each answer below links to the statute or official page it comes from (51 of 51 jurisdictions verified).
| State | Notice for unpaid rent | Court timing (answer / hearing) |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | In district court, the tenant must answer an eviction or unlawful-detainer complaint within 7 calendar days after service (Ala. R. Civ. P. 12(dc)). Rule 6(dc) makes clear that weekends and holidays are not skipped in eviction cases. Money claims in district court get 14 days. Note the pre-filing notice to terminate is different: it runs 7 business days (§ 35-9A-421). The statute (§ 6-6-332(b)) also requires the notice to be served at least six days before the return day. Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-461, 35-9A-141(3), 6-6-330, 6-6-332, 6-6-350; Ala. R. Civ. P. 6(dc), 12(dc) |
| 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) | Possession hearing at least 2 days after service and no more than 15 days after filing (Civil Rule 85). Written answer to the damages claim due within 20 days after service. AS 09.45.060 - 09.45.160; Alaska R. Civ. P. 85; AS 22.15.030 |
| 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) | The tenant must appear at the time named in the summons, 3 to 6 days after the summons is issued. For a material and irreparable breach, the hearing is set no later than the third day after filing, and restitution is ordered 12 to 24 hours after judgment. Per the Arizona Judicial Branch, a written answer is not required in justice court unless the judge orders one. A.R.S. §§ 33-1377, 12-1178(C); Arizona Supreme Court eviction timeline (10/2021) |
| Arkansas | For a civil unlawful detainer, the landlord must give three days' written notice to vacate before filing. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-60-304 | Written objection due within 5 days of service, excluding Sundays and legal holidays. Failing to deposit rent into the court registry without justification is grounds to grant the writ. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-60-304, 18-60-307 (as amended by Act 1052 of 2021 and Act 414 of 2023) |
| 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) | 10 days to respond, excluding weekends and judicial holidays (CCP § 1167, as amended by AB 2347, effective January 1, 2025; previously 5 court days). Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 1161, 1167; California Courts Self-Help Guide |
| 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) | Appearance and answer due on the date in the summons, which is 7 to 14 days after issuance. No default judgment for possession before close of business on the appearance date. Either party may appear remotely in county court residential cases. C.R.S. §§ 13-40-109, 13-40-111, 13-40-113, 13-40-115, 13-40-122 |
| 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 | Appearance due within 2 days after the return day; if appearance but no pleading within 2 days after return day, landlord may move for default and tenant has 3 days to respond. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-26a, 47a-35, 47a-37 to 47a-39, 47a-42 |
| 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) | Hearing set 5 to 30 days after service; tenant answers orally or in writing at the hearing. In nonpayment cases tenant may redeem by paying all amounts due any time before the writ is executed (§ 5716A), unless the tenant had 2 nonpayment judgments in the prior 18 months. 25 Del. C. §§ 5701-5720 |
| 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 | Summons must be served at least 14 days before the initial hearing; tenant should appear at the initial hearing to avoid default. D.C. Code §§ 16-1501, 16-1502, 42-3505.01 |
| 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) | Answer due within 5 days after service of process (§ 51.011(1)); rent must be deposited into the registry within 5 days excluding weekends and legal holidays (§ 83.60(2)). Fla. Stat. §§ 51.011, 83.56, 83.59-83.62 |
| 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) | Answer due within 7 days of service (next business day if the 7th day falls on a weekend or holiday). O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50 (as amended by HB 404, 2024), 44-7-51(a) (as amended by HB 270, 2025 Eviction Service Act, Act 255); Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (DCA, rev. 8-29-24), pp. 17-19 |
| 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) | The tenant must appear in court, or file a written answer, by the return day in the summons: the next court session at least 5 days after service if served in the same circuit, or at least 7 days after service if served in another circuit. If the tenant cannot be found in Hawaii, the return day is the next session at least 10 days after the court-ordered posting and mailing. Appearing without a written answer counts as a general denial. HRS §§ 666-6, 666-9, 666-11, 666-14, 521-68; Hawaii District Court Rules of Civil Procedure (DCRCP) Rules 8(b), 12(a) |
| 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) | Expedited (nonpayment / controlled substance): trial within 12 days of filing, with service at least 5 days before trial. Ordinary unlawful detainer: 21 days to answer. Idaho Code §§ 6-303, 6-310, 6-311, 6-316 |
| 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 | The summons sets a court (appearance) date not less than 7 or more than 40 days after it is issued. The tenant must appear at the time and place on the summons. A written answer is not required unless the court orders one; if none is ordered, the complaint's allegations are treated as denied and any defense may be raised at trial. 735 ILCS 5/9-106, 9-117, 9-209, 9-210; Ill. Sup. Ct. Rules 101(b)(2), 181(b)(2); Illinois Courts eviction forms page |
| 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 | Under the immediate-possession procedure, the show-cause hearing may be held no earlier than 5 business days after service on the defendant (IC 32-30-3-2). Other timing is set by the court's summons/small claims rules. IC 32-31-1-6; IC 32-30-3-1 to 32-30-3-5; IC 33-29-2-4 |
| 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) | Hearing set no later than 8 days after filing (15 days if plaintiff requests or consents); service at least 3 days before hearing; defendant may request a continuance if served fewer than 3 days before the hearing. Iowa Code §§ 648.3, 648.5, 648.22, 631.1(2) |
| 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 | Appearance/answer date 3 to 14 days after summons issues; trial within 14 days after the appearance date. K.S.A. 61-3803, 61-3805, 61-3806, 61-3807, 61-3808 (61-3806 and 61-3807 as amended by 2026 Sub. for HB 2357) |
| 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) | Defendant must be given at least 3 days' notice before trial; appeal window is 7 days after judgment. KRS 383.210, 383.215, 383.240, 383.245, 383.255 |
| 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 | Hearing no earlier than the third day after service. To suspend the eviction on appeal, the tenant must, within 24 hours after the judgment, have answered under oath, pleaded an affirmative defense entitling them to stay, applied for the appeal, and posted bond (art. 4735). La. C.C.P. arts. 4701-4735 |
| 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) | Hearing date must be at least 14 days after service of the summons and complaint (Maine Judicial Branch guide). The statute itself (§ 6004) does not set a day count. 14 M.R.S. §§ 6002-6005; Maine Judicial Branch, 'Evicting a Tenant from a Residence for not Paying Rent' |
| 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) | No written answer required in rent cases; failure-to-pay-rent trial is scheduled for the fifth day after the complaint is filed (§ 8-401(b)(4)). Appeal: within 4 days of judgment in rent cases (§ 8-401(i)) — Judiciary materials describe this as 4 business days — and within 10 days in breach-of-lease cases (§ 8-402.1(b)(2)). Right of redemption: tenant may stop a rent eviction by paying all amounts due plus court costs before the eviction is executed, unless the tenant had 3 possession judgments for unpaid rent in the prior 12 months (4 in Baltimore City, per the Judiciary) (§ 8-401(h)). Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402, 8-402.1, 8-407; Maryland Judiciary, Housing / Eviction Cases |
| 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 | Answer due the first Monday after the Monday entry day (Uniform Summary Process Rule 3). The trial is listed for the second Thursday after the entry day (Rule 2(c)). Rule provisions that conflict with Housing Court, District Court, or BMC standing orders are suspended (Trial Court Administrative Order 21-2), so the dates on the summons control. G.L. c. 239; Uniform Summary Process Rules 2-3; G.L. c. 239, § 15 |
| 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 | Summons sets the appearance/trial within 10 days of issuance and must be served at least 3 days before trial (or, under a local court rule, appearance within 5 days after service). Hearing must occur within 7 days after the appearance/trial date unless a court rule provides otherwise or parties stipulate (MCL 600.5735). Writ may not issue until 10 days after entry of the judgment for possession (MCL 600.5744(5)). MCL 600.5714; MCL 600.5735; MCL 600.5744; MCR 4.201 |
| 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 | Appearance is set not less than 7 nor more than 14 days after the summons is issued; service must be completed at least 7 days before the appearance. Expedited cases: 5 to 7 days after issuance, with service within 24 hours. Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.321, 504B.332, 504B.345, 504B.291, 504B.365 |
| 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) | The summons sets a hearing date. The statute requires no written answer. A single adjournment may not exceed 10 days without both parties' consent, and adjournments may not extend the hearing beyond 30 days from the date the eviction was filed (§ 89-8-41). Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-31 to 89-8-45 (added by Laws 2022, ch. 501 (SB 2461); §§ 89-8-3, 89-8-31, 89-8-35, and 89-8-39 amended by Laws 2025, ch. 460 (SB 2328), effective on passage, approved April 10, 2025) |
| 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 | Court date is no more than 21 business days after the summons is issued (unless the plaintiff consents in writing to later). Personal service is at least 4 days before the court date; posting and mailing at least 10 days before. 10 days after judgment for a trial de novo or a motion to set aside. RSMo 535.020, 535.030, 535.040, 535.160; 441.040; 441.060 |
| 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) | Answer due 5 business days after service, excluding the date of service (§ 70-24-429(4)); hearing within 10 business days (5 for § 70-24-321(3) cases); damages hearing within 45 days after possession is adjudicated. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-427, 70-24-429, 3-10-302 |
| 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) | Trial is set 10 to 14 days after the summons issues; no separate written answer deadline was identified in the URLTA sections reviewed. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1440 to 76-1447 |
| 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) | Tenant's affidavit due by close of business on the 7th judicial day after service of a nonpayment notice (5th judicial day for an NRS 40.254 notice). The statute sets no fixed number of days for the hearing. NRS 40.253; NRS 40.254; NRS 40.2516; NRS 40.251 |
| 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 | Appearance due by the return day (7 days after sheriff's service); answer due within 5 days after the return date (effective Oct. 8, 2026); hearing within 10 days after the appearance. RSA 540:3, 540:5, 540:13, 540:13-c, 540:14 |
| 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 | Per NJ Courts, trial is set at least 21 days after the summons is served, and the tenant must appear (no written answer is required). Not re-verified against the court rule text. N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53 et seq., 2A:18-57, 2A:18-61.1 to -61.2, 2A:42-10.6, 2A:42-10.16, 2A:42-10.16a |
| 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) | Owner's action for possession: trial not less than 7 nor more than 10 days after service of the summons (§ 47-8-43(A)(1)). NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-40 to 47-8-47 |
| 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) | Holdover: notice of petition served at least 10 and not more than 17 days before the hearing (RPAPL 733). Nonpayment (where RPAPL 732 is adopted by court rule): tenant answers within 10 days of service; trial set 3-8 days after answer. N.Y. RPAPL §§ 711, 732, 733, 749, 753 |
| 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) | Summons requires the tenant to appear at a hearing not more than 7 days from issuance, excluding weekends and legal holidays (§ 42-28). No written answer is required in small claims. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-26 to 42-36.2 |
| 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 | Tenant answers at the hearing, which is 3 to 15 days after the summons is issued (§ 47-32-02). Either party may request a district judge instead of a judicial referee within 7 days after service of notice of hearing (ND Legal Self-Help Center guide). N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01 to 47-32-04 |
| 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 | Possession hearing no sooner than 7 days after service is complete; answer day for any other (money) claims is 28 days after service (§ 1923.06(H)). Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1923.01, 1923.04, 1923.06, 1923.14 |
| 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 | Appearance/trial date not less than 5 nor more than 10 days after summons issues; service at least 3 days before trial. 12 O.S. §§ 1148.1, 1148.4, 1148.5, 1148.10 |
| 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 | First appearance 7 days (15 days for nonpayment) after the judicial day following payment of fees; written answer due at first appearance. ORS 105.110, 105.135, 105.137, 105.151 |
| Pennsylvania | 10-day written notice to quit. Act § 501(b) (68 P.S. § 250.501(b)) | Hearing date 7 to 10 days from the date of the summons (statute). No written answer required; counterclaims must be filed before the hearing (Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 508, per AG guide). 68 P.S. §§ 250.501-250.513 |
| 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 | Nonpayment: hearing 14-24 days after filing; answer at or before hearing. Other evictions: 20 days from service to answer. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-10, 34-18-35, 34-18-36, 34-18-48 |
| 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) | 10 days after service of the Rule to Vacate or Show Cause to request a hearing / show cause. S.C. Code §§ 27-37-10 to 27-37-160; 27-40-790, 27-40-800 |
| 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) | Appear and plead within 5 days of service, or 30 days after publication if sooner. Trial may be set on 2 days' notice after issue is joined. The period was 4 days before July 1, 2024, when SL 2024, ch 75, § 2 changed it to 5. SDCL 21-16-1 to 21-16-12 |
| 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) | No written answer is required in General Sessions. The trial is set at least 6 days after service of the detainer warrant (T.C.A. 29-18-117). The writ of possession is available 10 days after judgment, which is also the deadline to appeal. T.C.A. 29-18-115, -117, -126, -128, -130; 27-5-108; 16-15-501 |
| 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) | Trial 10-21 days after the petition is filed (no earlier than 4 days after service; postponement no more than 7 days without written agreement). Under the rewritten Rule 510 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026), a written answer is not required; the tenant must appear at trial. Tex. Prop. Code ch. 24 (as amended by SB 38, Acts 2025, 89th Leg., ch. 960, eff. Jan. 1, 2026); Tex. R. Civ. P. 510 (Misc. Docket Nos. 25-9096 and 25-9105, eff. Jan. 1, 2026) |
| Utah | 3 business days' written notice to pay rent and other amounts due or surrender the premises. Utah Code 78B-6-802(1)(c) | Answer due 3 business days after service; occupancy hearing within 10 business days of request after answer; trial within 60 days of service. Utah Code 78B-6-802; 78B-6-807; 78B-6-810; 78B-6-811; 78B-6-812 |
| 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) | Answer generally due 21 days after service; writ executed no earlier than 14 days after service (7 days after escrow default). Writ effective for 60 days after issuance. 12 V.S.A. 4853a; 12 V.S.A. 4854; 9 V.S.A. 4467 |
| Virginia | 14-day written pay-or-quit notice. Va. Code 55.1-1245(F) | Initial hearing within 21 days of filing (outer limit 30 days); summons must be served at least 10 days before the return date. Va. Code 8.01-126; 8.01-470; 8.01-471; 55.1-1250 |
| Washington | 14-day notice to pay rent or vacate, in the statutory form. RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057 | Tenant's written response is due by the date stated in the summons; show cause hearing is 7-30 days after service of the show cause order. Low-income tenants have a right to appointed counsel. RCW 59.18.365; RCW 59.18.370; RCW 59.18.410; RCW 59.18.312 |
| 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) | Hearing 5–10 judicial days after the petition is filed; written defense may be filed and served within 5 days of the tenant's receipt of notice (as amended by 2025 HB 3272). W. Va. Code §§ 55-3A-1, 55-3A-3 |
| 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) | Return date 5–25 days from issuance, with service at least 5 days before. Contested possession trial within 30 days of the return date. No adjournments without cause unless the landlord consents. Appeal within 15 days of the judgment. Wis. Stat. §§ 799.05(3)(b), 799.20(4), 799.27, 799.40–799.45 |
| 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 | Trial is 3–12 days after service of the summons. A written answer is optional and the tenant may still fully participate at trial. To stay the judgment on appeal, the tenant must file a bond within 48 hours of judgment (Sundays excepted) and deposit the rent. W.S. 1-21-1001 to 1-21-1017 |
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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.