By State

Other Types (2)

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

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

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

Personal delivery. Delivered personally to the tenant;
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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