Eviction Laws by State (2026)

Alabama evictions are governed by the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act:

• Landlords must provide 7 business days' written notice for nonpayment of rent (14 days for other violations)
• Landlords must file an ejectment action in district court
• Self-help evictions are illegal
• Alabama does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings.

Alaska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act provides tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 7 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 10 days' notice to cure (or the tenancy terminates in 15 days if not cured)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are illegal in Alaska
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited
• Tenants have the right to appear and contest eviction in court

Arizona evictions are governed by the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ARLTA):

• Landlords must provide 5 business days' written notice (excluding weekends and holidays) to pay rent or quit for nonpayment
• For health and safety violations: 5 business days' notice (with immediate termination possible for repeat violations within 6 months)
• For material lease violations: 10 days' notice with 10 days to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies without cause: 30 days' notice
• Landlords must file a special detainer action in justice court — self-help evictions are prohibited
• Arizona does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings., and state law preempts local rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. ordinances
• Retaliatory eviction is prohibited under ARLTA

Arkansas is one of the most landlord-friendly states — it has a criminal eviction statute:

• Arkansas is the only state where tenants can face criminal charges for failure to vacate (Ark. Code § 18-16-101)
• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 10 days' notice (or 3 days under some lease terms)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are common in practice, though court proceedings are technically required
• Tenant protections are minimal — Arkansas does not have a comprehensive landlord-tenant statute like most states

Connecticut provides strong tenant protections through comprehensive landlord-tenant statutes:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must serve a 3-day notice to quitA written notice from a landlord telling a tenant to leave (or fix a lease violation) by a set date. It is usually the first required step before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit. before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give a 15-day notice to quitA written notice from a landlord telling a tenant to leave (or fix a lease violation) by a set date. It is usually the first required step before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit.
• Connecticut requires evictions to go through court — self-help evictions are illegal
• Retaliatory and discriminatory evictions are prohibited
• Tenants have a right to appear and contest eviction; free legal representation is available through some programs
• Connecticut has a "right to cureA period given by contract or statute during which a party who has breached an agreement can fix the problem before the other side can sue or cancel. Common in consumer-goods and construction disputes." for first-time nonpayment within 9 months

Delaware provides moderate tenant protections under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 5 days' notice to pay before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give 7 days' notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 60 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Delaware
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited
• Delaware has a dedicated Justice of the Peace Court that handles most landlord-tenant cases

D.C. has some of the strongest tenant protections in the nation:

• Just cause eviction: Landlords can only evict for specified causes under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 (nonpayment, lease violations, personal use, building renovation, etc.).
• Rent stabilization: Most D.C. rental units built before 1976 are covered by rent stabilization, which limits rent increases and provides additional eviction protections.
• TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act): When a rental building is sold, tenants have the right to purchase the property before outside buyers. This is unique to D.C.
• Pandemic protections: D.C. implemented some of the longest-lasting eviction protections during COVID-19 and has maintained enhanced tenant protections since.

Hawaii has strong tenant protections under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 5 business days' notice before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give 10 days' notice with an opportunity to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must give 45 days' notice to terminate (28 days for tenants)
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Hawaii
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited
• Hawaii's high housing costs and limited land make eviction protections particularly critical

Idaho is a landlord-friendly state with relatively limited tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 3 days' notice for an incurable breach
• For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give 30 days' notice to terminate (or one full rental period, whichever is longer)
• Self-help evictions (changing locks, removing belongings) are prohibited
• Idaho does not have a statewide right-to-cure for lease violations — the landlord can proceed directly to eviction for incurable breaches

Indiana landlord-tenant law governs evictions with relatively landlord-friendly rules:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 10-day written notice before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give a reasonable notice (typically specified in the lease)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Landlords must file an eviction action ("ejectment") in small claims courtA simplified court for money disputes below a state-set dollar limit (usually $5,000 to $25,000). Lawyers are often barred or optional, and hearings are designed for people representing themselves. or circuit court — "self-help" evictions are prohibited
• Tenants have the right to a court hearing before being removed
• Indiana does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. and has no statewide protections against retaliatory eviction (though courts may recognize the defense)

Iowa's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act provides tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 7 days' notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Iowa
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited
• Tenants have the right to appear and contest eviction in court

Kansas is a landlord-friendly state with the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice (10 days for tenancies under the Act) to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 14 days' notice to cure (30 days for a second occurrence)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal under the Act
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited

Louisiana evictions follow unique procedures under its civil law system:

• Landlords must provide 5 business days' written notice (excluding weekends and legal holidays) to vacate for nonpayment (La. C.C.P. Art. 4701)
• For lease violations: notice as specified in the lease
• Landlords must file an eviction suit in city or justice of the peace court
• Self-help evictions are illegal
• Louisiana does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings.

Maine has moderate-to-strong tenant protections for eviction:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 7 days' written notice
• For lease violations, landlords must give 7 days' notice with an opportunity to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must give 30 days' notice
• Self-help evictions are prohibited — landlords must use the judicial Forcible Entry and Detainer process
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited (14 M.R.S.A. § 6001)
• Tenants have the right to contest eviction in court

Maryland provides tenants with significant protections during the eviction process:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords may file a Failure to Pay Rent complaint in District Court — no prior written notice is required, but tenants can pay the amount owed plus court costs before the trial date to dismiss the case
• For lease violations, landlords must give 30 days' written notice before filing for breach of lease
• For month-to-month tenancies, 60 days' notice is required in Baltimore City; 1 month elsewhere
• "Self-help" evictions are illegal — landlords must go through the court system
• Tenants have the right to a court hearing, and the right to "redeem" (pay what's owed) in rent cases
• Maryland law provides protections against retaliatory evictions

Michigan evictions are governed by the Summary Proceedings Act with strong tenant protections:

• Landlords must provide written notice before filing for eviction: 7 days for nonpayment of rent
• For lease termination without cause on month-to-month tenancies: 30 days notice required (or as specified in the lease)
• Immediate notice can be given for health/safety violations or illegal activity
• Landlords must file a summons and complaint in district court — self-help evictions are illegal
• Tenants have 10 days after judgment to pay all amounts owed and avoid eviction (the "redemption period" for nonpayment cases)
• Michigan does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings.; local rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. ordinances are preempted by state law

Minnesota evictions are governed by Minn. Stat. Chapter 504B:

• Landlords must provide 14 days' written notice for nonpayment of rent
• For lease violations: notice period depends on the lease terms
• For month-to-month tenancies without cause: one full rental period notice
• Landlords must file an eviction action (unlawful detainer) in district court — self-help evictions are illegal
• Tenants have a right to a court hearing before eviction
• Minnesota provides a redemption period allowing tenants to pay and stop eviction in some cases

Mississippi is a very landlord-friendly state with limited tenant protections:

• Mississippi does not have a comprehensive landlord-tenant statute like most states
• Eviction procedures are governed by common law and scattered statutes
• For nonpayment of rent, the lease terms generally control the eviction timeline
• Self-help evictions are generally prohibited, but enforcement is inconsistent
• Tenants have limited statutory remedies — most protections come from lease terms and common law

Missouri landlord-tenant law provides a relatively streamlined eviction process:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords may give immediate notice and file for eviction — Missouri does not require a specific cure period for nonpayment (though leases may provide one)
• For lease violations, the lease terms typically control the notice requirements
• For month-to-month tenancies, 1 month's notice is required to terminate
• Landlords must file a rent and possession or unlawful detainer action in circuit court — "self-help" evictions are illegal
• Tenants have the right to a court hearing before being removed
• Missouri does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. and preempts local rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. ordinances
• Kansas City and St. Louis have additional tenant protection ordinances

Montana evictions are governed by the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 14 days' notice with an opportunity to cure (30 days if the same violation recurs within 6 months)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are prohibited — landlords must go through the judicial process
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited (Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-431)
• Tenants have the right to contest eviction in justice court

Nebraska evictions are governed by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA):

• Landlords must provide written notice before filing for eviction — 14 days for lease violations (with opportunity to cure), 30 days for month-to-month termination
• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 7 days' notice before filing
• Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are illegal in Nebraska
• Tenants have the right to appear and contest eviction in court
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited under the URLTA

Nevada provides tenant protections that have been strengthened in recent years:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 7 judicial days' notice to pay or quit (previously 5 days, extended by AB 486 in 2019)
• For lease violations, landlords must give 5 days' notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Nevada
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited
• Nevada has enacted additional protections for tenants facing eviction during housing crises

New Hampshire has moderate tenant protections for eviction:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 7 days' written demand before filing for eviction
• For lease violations or other grounds, landlords must give 30 days' notice
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are prohibited — landlords must go through the judicial eviction process
• Retaliatory evictions within 6 months of a tenant complaint are presumed retaliatory (RSA 540:13-a)
• Tenants have the right to contest the eviction in district court

New Mexico provides tenant protections under the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 7 days' notice to cure (30 days for a second violation within 6 months)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal in New Mexico
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited

North Dakota provides basic tenant protections under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give written notice — 3 days (lease may specify longer)
• For lease violations, landlords must give a reasonable notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are generally prohibited
• Tenants have the right to contest eviction in court

Oklahoma evictions are governed by the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act:

• Landlords must provide 5 days' written notice for nonpayment of rent
• For lease violations: 15 days' notice with 10 days to cure
• Landlords must file a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) action
• Self-help evictions are illegal

Oregon has some of the strongest tenant protections in the nation:

• For month-to-month tenancies (most common): landlords must provide at least 10 days' written notice for nonpayment of rent (served no earlier than 8 days after rent is due)
• For week-to-week tenancies: 72 hours' notice for nonpayment
• For lease violations: 30 days' notice with 14 days to cure
• After the first year of occupancy, no-cause evictions are prohibited under SB 608 — landlords must have a qualifying reason and provide 90 days' notice
• Oregon has statewide rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. — annual increases capped at 7% + CPI (max 10%)
• Self-help evictions are illegal

Rhode Island provides strong tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 5 days' notice to pay before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give 20 days' notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Rhode Island
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited
• Rhode Island provides additional protections for senior and disabled tenants

South Carolina evictions are governed by the SC Residential Landlord and Tenant Act:

• Landlords must provide 5 days' written notice for nonpayment of rent
• For lease violations: 14 days' notice with 14 days to remedy
• Landlords must file an ejectment action in magistrate court
• Self-help evictions are illegal
• SC does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings.

South Dakota is a landlord-friendly state with limited tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give notice (time varies by violation type)
• For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is required to terminate (1 full rental period)
• Self-help evictions are generally prohibited
• South Dakota does not have a comprehensive landlord-tenant act — protections are limited

Utah provides moderate tenant protections under the Utah Fit Premises Act:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 calendar days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords must give 3 calendar days' notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 15 days' notice is required to terminate
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Utah
• Tenants have the right to appear and contest eviction in court

Vermont provides strong tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 14 days' notice to pay before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give 30 days' notice to cure
• For month-to-month tenancies, 60 days' notice is required to terminate (or 30 days for cause)
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Vermont
• Retaliatory and discriminatory evictions are prohibited
• Vermont courts are generally tenant-friendly

Virginia evictions are governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA):

• Landlords must provide 5 days' written notice to pay rent or quit for nonpayment
• For lease violations: 30 days' notice with 21 days to remedy the violation
• For month-to-month tenancies without cause: 30 days' notice
• Landlords must file an unlawful detainer action in general district court — self-help evictions are prohibited
• Virginia enacted the right to redemption: tenants can pay all owed amounts to stop eviction, once per 12-month period
• Virginia has no rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings., and local rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings. is preempted by state law
• Retaliatory eviction is prohibited under VRLTA

Washington has very strong tenant protections under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA):

• Landlords must provide 14 days' written notice to pay rent or vacate for nonpayment
• Landlords can only evict for specific enumerated reasons (just cause eviction) in many jurisdictions, including Seattle
• For lease violations other than nonpayment: 10 days' notice to comply or vacate
• For month-to-month tenancies without cause: 20 days' notice (unless a just cause ordinance applies)
• Self-help evictions are illegal in Washington
• Washington enacted the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) requiring pre-filing dispute resolution
• Tenants have a right to legal representation in eviction proceedings in some jurisdictions (right to counsel programs)

West Virginia eviction procedures are set by state statute and are relatively landlord-friendly:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords may serve an immediate notice to quit (no mandatory waiting period in some cases)
• For other lease violations, landlords generally must provide reasonable notice
• Month-to-month tenancies require 1 month's notice to terminate
• Self-help evictions are prohibited — landlords must go through the judicial process
• Tenants have the right to appear and contest the eviction in magistrate court
• Retaliatory evictions are prohibited under WV law

Wisconsin landlord-tenant law governs evictions through detailed statutory procedures:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 5-day written notice to pay or vacate before filing for eviction
• For lease violations, landlords must give 5-day notice for month-to-month tenancies
• For month-to-month tenancies, 28 days' notice is required to terminate (must expire on the last day of a rental period)
• Landlords must file a small claims eviction action in circuit court — "self-help" evictions are illegal
• Tenants have the right to a court hearing before being removed
• Wisconsin prohibits retaliatory evictions (Wis. Stat. § 704.45)
• Wisconsin does not have rent controlA local law that caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year on covered units. Rent control exists in a limited number of US cities and states and usually applies only to older buildings.

Wyoming is a landlord-friendly state with limited tenant protections:

• For nonpayment of rent, landlords must give 3 days' notice to pay or quit
• For lease violations, landlords can terminate with appropriate notice
• For month-to-month tenancies, either party can give notice equal to the rental period (typically 30 days)
• Self-help evictions are generally prohibited (must go through court process)
• Wyoming does not have a comprehensive landlord-tenant act — common law and scattered statutes apply