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Lease Termination Letter | 30-Day Notice to Vacate

A lease termination letter is used by a landlord or tenant to end a month-to-month lease agreement. It can be sent at any time but must comply with the minimum notice period required under State law.
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Other Types (2)

(Early) Lease Termination Letter – Used by a landlord or tenant to cancel a fixed lease before its end date.

Download: PDF, MS Word, ODT

Eviction Notice (Notice to Quit) – Used by a landlord if the tenant has violated the lease, which is most commonly due to late rent but can be for any type of lease violation.

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How to Terminate a Lease (5 steps)

1. Review Your Lease

landlord reviewing lease agreement on laptop

In most month-to-month leases, the minimum time period to terminate is included. If not, the state-required notice period should be used.

2. Contact the Other Party

landlord on phone with tenant

Before sending the notice, communication should be made to inform the other party of the intent to terminate.

For example, if the landlord is terminating the lease, this will help both parties organize and schedule the best time for the move-out.

3. Send the Notice

closeup of certified mail envelope
In accordance with the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a landlord can send notice to a tenant in the following methods:

  1. Personal delivery. Delivered personally to the tenant;
  2. Mail. If sent via registered or certified mail.

Tenants are considered to have received notice when they have “actual knowledge of the fact.”

4. Schedule the Move-Out

closeup of certified mail envelope

After the notice has been sent, it is advised to schedule a move-out date. In larger residential complexes, it’s best to inform management in the case of an elevator or other resources that need to be reserved.

5. File an Eviction (if necessary)

court judge signing eviction ruling

In the event a tenant refuses to vacate the premises, the landlord will have to seek an eviction lawsuit in the local housing court.

Even if the tenant mentions they will not vacate the premises, the landlord is required to wait the full notice period before filing a lawsuit.


State Termination Periods (# Days)
State Required Termination Period Laws
Alabama 30 days § 35-9A-441(b)
Alaska 30 days § 34.03.290(b)
Arizona 30 days ARS § 33-1375
Arkansas 30 days § 18-17-704
California 30 days if the tenancy has been 1 year or less, 60 days for more than 1 year. CIV § 1946
Colorado A tenancy for 1 year or longer, 91 days; A tenancy of 6 months or longer but less than a year, 28 days; A tenancy of 1 month or longer but less than 6 months, 21 days; A tenancy of 1 week or longer but less than 1 month, or a tenancy at will, 3 days; A tenancy for less than 1 week, 1 day. § 13-40-107
Connecticut 3 days § 47a-23(a)
Delaware 60 days Title 25 §  5106
District of Columbia 30 days § 42–3505.54(a)
Florida 30 days § 83.57(3)
Georgia 60 days from the landlord and 30 days from the tenant. § 44-7-7
Hawaii 45 days from the landlord and 28 days from the tenant. § 521-71
Idaho 30 days § 55-208
Illinois 30 days 735 ILCS 5/9-207
Indiana 30 days § 32-31-1-1
Iowa 30 days § 562A.34
Kansas 30 days § 58-2570(b)
Kentucky 30 days § 383.695(2)
Louisiana 10 days CC 2728(2)
Maine 30 days Title 14 § 6002
Maryland 60 days § 8-402
Massachusetts 30 days Ch. 186 Sec. 12
Michigan 30 days § 554.134(1)
Minnesota 30 days § 504B.135
Mississippi 30 days § 89-8-19(3)
Missouri Termination date must be a rent-paying date not less than one month from the receipt of notice. § 441.060(1)
Montana 30 days § 70-24-441
Nebraska 30 days § 76-1437(2)
Nevada 30 days NRS 40.251
New Hampshire 30 days § 540:11(II)
New Jersey 30 days N.J. § 2A:18-56(b), N.J. § 2A:18-53(a)
New Mexico 30 days § 47-8-37
New York 30 days § 232-b
North Carolina 7 days § 42-14
North Dakota 30 days § 47-16-07
Ohio 30 days § 5321.17(B)
Oklahoma 30 days § 41-111(A)
Oregon 30 days § 91.070
Pennsylvania 15 days for tenancy of 1 year or less, 30 days for tenancy of more than 1 year. § 250.501(b)
Rhode Island 30 days § 34-18-37
South Carolina 30 days § 27-40-770(b)
South Dakota The landlord must provide at least 30 days, and the tenant must provide at least 15 days. § 43-32-13
Tennessee 30 days § 66-28-512(b)
Texas 30 days § 91.001(b)
Utah 15 days § 78B-6-802(b)(i)
Vermont 90 days if the tenancy has been more than 2 years, 60 days if 2 years or less. § 4467
Virginia 30 days § 55.1-1253(A)
Washington The landlord must provide at least 60 days, and the tenant must provide at least 20 days. RCWA 59.18.650
West Virginia 30 days § 37-6-5
Wisconsin 28 days § 704.19
Wyoming No statute

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