Updated August 07, 2023
A landlord’s notice to enter is a letter given by a landlord to a tenant to enter the premises in accordance with State law. This is most commonly for routine maintenance, a showing, or to inspect the premises. A landlord may not abuse this right and multiple notices without cause could be considered harassment.
By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- 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
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
By Type
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
Table of Contents |
How to Enter a Tenant’s Property
- Step 1 – Reason for Entering
- Step 2 – Enter Notice Period
- Step 3 – Deliver the Notice
- Step 4 – Enter the Property
Step 1 – Write the Reason for Entering
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
There are commonly three (3) reasons for entering the premises:
- Repairs and maintenance;
- Agent showings; and
- General inspection of the premises.
Any other reason may be detailed in the notice. It is recommended that a landlord enter a tenant’s property no more than once per month.
Step 2 – Enter the Notice Period
Use the Notice Periods by State to determine the required time duration. If the State has no laws, it is highly recommended that at least 24 hours be given as proper notice.
Step 3 – Deliver the Notice
For court purposes, must be delivered either in person, hung on the door, or by standard or certified mail. Although, most landlords will text or call the tenant.
Step 4 – Enter the Property
Wait the time period and afterward enter the property. In most States, the landlord is required to enter the premises during normal working hours and convenient for the tenant.
Required Notice Periods
| State | Required Notice Period | Statute |
| Alabama | 2 days | § 35-9A-303 |
| Alaska | 24 hours | § 34.03.140 |
| Arizona | 48 hours | ARS 33-1343 |
| Arkansas | – | No statute |
| California | 24 hours | CIV § 1954 |
| Colorado | – | No statute |
| Connecticut | “Reasonable notice” | § 47a-16 |
| Delaware | 48 hours | Title 25 § 5509 |
| Florida | 12 hours | § 83.53(2) |
| Georgia | – | No statute |
| Hawaii | 2 days | § 521-53 |
| Idaho | – | No statute |
| Illinois | – | No statute |
| Indiana | Reasonable notice | § 32-31-5-6 |
| Iowa | 24 hours | § 562A.19 |
| Kansas | “Reasonable notice” | § 58-2557 |
| Kentucky | 2 days | § 383.585 |
| Louisiana | – | No statute |
| Maine | 24 hours | § 6025 |
| Maryland | – | No statute |
| Massachusetts | – | No statute |
| Michigan | – | No statute |
| Minnesota | “Reasonable notice” | § 504B.211(Subd. 2) |
| Mississippi | – | No statute |
| Missouri | – | No statute |
| Montana | 24 hours | § 70-24-312 |
| Nebraska | 24 hours | § 76-1423 |
| Nevada | 24 hours | NRS 118A.330 |
| New Hampshire | “Reasonable notice” | RSA 540-A:3 |
| New Jersey | 1 day | NJSA 2A:39-1, § 5:10-5.10 |
| New Mexico | 24 hours | § 47-8-24, § 47-8-34 |
| New York | “Reasonable notice” | Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide (page 54) |
| North Carolina | – | No statute |
| North Dakota | “Reasonable notice” | § 47-16-07.3 |
| Ohio | 24 hours | § 5321.04, §5321.05(B) |
| Oklahoma | 1 day | § 41-128 |
| Oregon | 24 hours | § 90.322 |
| Pennsylvania | – | No statute |
| Rhode Island | 2 days | § 34-18-26, §34-18-39 |
| South Carolina | 24 hours | § 27-40-530, §27-40-720, §27-40-730 |
| South Dakota | 24 hours | § 43-32-32 |
| Tennessee | “Reasonable notice” | § 66-28 |
| Texas | – | No statute |
| Utah | 24 hours | § 57-22-4, § 57-22-5(2)(c) |
| Vermont | 48 hours | § 4460 |
| Virginia | 72 hours | § 55.1-1229(4) |
| Washington | 2 day | § 59.18.150 |
| Washington D.C. | 48 hours | § 8–231.06(a) |
| West Virginia | – | No statute |
| Wisconsin | 12 hours | §704.05(2), ATCP 134.09 |
| Wyoming | – | No statute |