RENTING GUIDES · FOR TENANTS

Tenant notice to vacate: requirements by state

Understand the notice a tenant gives a landlord before moving out. Compare monthly timing, fixed-lease nonrenewal and delivery issues across 45 state summaries, then prepare your own letter.

By Friendly Landlord · Research reviewed October 25, 2026

First, identify the tenancy you are ending

Month-to-month

A periodic rental continues from one rental period to another. Find the beginning and end of that period, the notice clause and any local requirements. The date rent is due can be important, but payment frequency alone does not settle the legal classification.

Fixed lease ending

A fixed lease has an agreed expiration date. Check nonrenewal, automatic extension and reminder clauses before assuming that date ends the tenancy without notice. A one-year agreement paid monthly is still a fixed agreement unless something changes.

Leaving early

A move-out letter does not by itself cancel remaining rent or release a tenant from a fixed lease. A negotiated release or a special statutory ground may require different wording, evidence and procedures. Use a separate review for those situations.

Why 30 days, one month and a rental period differ

Read the actual wording of the applicable rule. “30 days” counts days; “one month” follows a month-based rule; “one rental period” follows the rental cycle. Some rules allow an end during a period, while others require a period boundary. These distinctions are why this guide does not give one nationwide deadline.

Example: if an agreement runs from the first day of a month to the next rental boundary, a rule requiring notice before that boundary can produce a different result from a rule permitting any properly noticed date. Identify the lawful delivery or receipt date first, then apply the correct interval and boundary. Leave time to address a rejected or unsuccessful delivery.

The notice date, signature date, PDF download date, date mailed and date received can all be different. Do not treat the date printed at the top of a letter as proof that the recipient received timely notice. The tool records your chosen dates; it does not certify a legal deadline.

Deliver the notice, not just the document

  1. Check the recipient. Read the landlord or authorized notice agent and address in the agreement and applicable law. A repair contact is not necessarily the notice recipient.
  2. Check the method. Personal delivery, mail, email and a resident portal can have different requirements. Everyday use of email does not automatically authorize legal termination notices by email.
  3. Check timing. Some rules depend on actual receipt; others have specific mailing or completion provisions. Use the rule for the method actually used.
  4. Keep evidence. Retain the completed signed letter and a truthful record of delivery, such as an acknowledgment or the applicable mailing documentation. Do not certify an act you have not performed.

Friendly Landlord prepares a document. It does not deliver notice, confirm receipt, obtain the landlord’s agreement or determine that every obligation has ended. The state sections below identify important differences; they are not an exhaustive service manual.

Find your state

45 states shown

Each section separates ordinary monthly notice, fixed-end issues and delivery. If your state is not listed, read the General letter guide and verify the applicable requirements independently; absence from this list does not mean that no notice law exists.

Read the General letter guide
AlabamaAla. Code § 35-9A-441(b)

Monthly notice and timing

Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b) requires written monthly termination notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date stated in the notice. Identify the rental-period boundary; the date you type or sign the letter does not prove when notice reached the landlord.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the actual end date and lawful notice or renewal clauses. Sections 35-9A-161 and 35-9A-202 concern agreement terms and disclosure of the person authorized to receive notices; they do not turn every one-year lease into a monthly tenancy.

Delivery and evidence

Check the designated notice recipient and address. Section 35-9A-144(e) excludes termination notices from its general notice provisions, so do not assume its general mailing rules establish timely tenant termination. Keep evidence of actual delivery to the authorized recipient.

Avoid this mistake

A landlord's eviction notice and a tenant's ordinary move-out letter serve different purposes. Do not add an assumed three-day mailing allowance.

Sources and references

Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

AlaskaAS 34.03.290(b)

Monthly notice and timing

AS 34.03.290(b) calls for written notice at least 30 days before the rental due date identified for termination. Thirty days and the correct rental date both matter; an arbitrary midmonth move-out date is not automatically the legal termination date.

Fixed lease and renewal

Distinguish a lease reaching its agreed end from a later periodic tenancy. Read the notice and renewal provisions, and check AS 34.03.020 if continued occupancy or a new agreement changes the arrangement.

Delivery and evidence

The Alaska Department of Law handbook discusses tenant hand delivery and mailing. Confirm the applicable method and allow for receipt; do not borrow a mailing extension from a landlord eviction procedure.

Avoid this mistake

The linked Department of Law handbook is a 2024 publication. Read it alongside the statute and later amendments rather than treating its publication date as a current-law guarantee.

Sources and references

AS 34.03.290(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

ArizonaA.R.S. § 33-1375(B)

Monthly notice and timing

A.R.S. § 33-1375(B) requires written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified for termination. Start with the rental cycle in your agreement, then work back from that date; simply adding 30 to the letter date can miss the cycle.

Fixed lease and renewal

For a lease with a definite end, review the notice and renewal clauses under A.R.S. § 33-1314(A). The monthly rule is not an automatic right to leave a fixed lease early.

Delivery and evidence

A.R.S. § 33-1313 addresses receipt, including hand delivery and registered or certified mail. Its mailing rule uses the earlier of actual receipt or five days after mailing. Keep proof of the method, recipient and timing; mailing on the deadline can be too late.

Avoid this mistake

Do not replace the statutory five-day receipt rule with a generic mail-plus-three calculation. The tool records dates, not verified service.

Sources and references

A.R.S. § 33-1375(B)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

ArkansasArk. Code § 18-17-704(b)

Monthly notice and timing

Ark. Code § 18-17-704(b) states a 30-day written-notice rule for monthly termination. The Attorney General's tenant guidance also distinguishes written leases, whose notice clauses should be read, from oral leases requiring a rental period of notice.

Fixed lease and renewal

Find the actual ending date and any written nonrenewal requirement. A fixed end and an oral monthly rental are not interchangeable; check whether an extension or continued occupancy changes the arrangement.

Delivery and evidence

Give the notice to the proper landlord or agent using the applicable agreement and law. Keep the completed letter and evidence of receipt, rather than assuming a PDF download sends anything.

Avoid this mistake

For an oral monthly arrangement, account for a full rental period as well as the notice interval. Do not promise that an off-cycle move automatically produces prorated rent.

Sources and references

Ark. Code § 18-17-704(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

CaliforniaCal. Civ. Code § 1946

Monthly notice and timing

California Civil Code § 1946 supplies the ordinary monthly notice framework. The Department of Real Estate guide explains a default 30-day tenant notice, while also discussing different agreed notice terms. Read your agreement before assuming the landlord's 60-day rule applies to you.

Fixed lease and renewal

Check the lease's agreed ending date, nonrenewal clause and any continuation provision. Paying rent monthly during a one-year lease does not itself make that lease month-to-month.

Delivery and evidence

The DRE guide recommends in-person delivery or certified mail with a return receipt and identifies other permitted service methods. Date the letter, state the intended end, retain a copy and verify the applicable service calculation.

Avoid this mistake

A monthly notice need not always end on the last day of a calendar month, but rent responsibility and the agreement still matter. Special statutory early-termination grounds are separate from this ordinary notice.

Sources and references

Cal. Civ. Code § 1946

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

ColoradoC.R.S. § 13-40-107

Monthly notice and timing

C.R.S. § 13-40-107 uses tenancy classifications: the notice ladder includes 21 days for a term of at least one month but less than six months, 28 days for six months to less than a year, and 91 days for a year or longer. Identify the agreed term, not just how long you have lived there.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 13-40-107(4) addresses a fixed tenancy ending at a certain time. Read that exception together with any contractual nonrenewal obligation; do not automatically apply the periodic-tenancy ladder to every fixed lease.

Delivery and evidence

The statutory notice identifies the property and termination date and is signed by the notifying party or authorized representative. Check the applicable delivery procedure and keep proof.

Avoid this mistake

The linked 2024 enacted text amended this section. A landlord's separate cause-for-eviction obligations do not supply the tenant's move-out deadline.

Sources and references

C.R.S. § 13-40-107

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

ConnecticutConn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3, 47a-3b, 47a-3d

Monthly notice and timing

Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3, 47a-3b and 47a-3d distinguish agreed terms, default periodic arrangements and oral monthly leases. They do not establish a universal tenant 30-day deadline for every Connecticut rental. Begin with the actual agreement and tenancy classification.

Fixed lease and renewal

A definite lease end, an oral one-month lease and a renewal clause require different analysis. Read what the agreement says about expiration and continued occupancy before choosing monthly termination or fixed-term nonrenewal.

Delivery and evidence

Use the agreement's lawful notice address and method, and preserve evidence that the correct recipient received your written notice. Do not apply a landlord's court notice-to-quit procedure as though it were the tenant's own move-out procedure.

Avoid this mistake

If the term or contractual notice requirement is unclear, the form cannot resolve that uncertainty. Obtain clarification before treating a selected date as effective termination.

Sources and references

Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3, 47a-3b, 47a-3d

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

FloridaFla. Stat. § 83.57(3)

Monthly notice and timing

Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3) requires at least 30 days before the end of a monthly rental period. It is a period-end rule, not simply 30 days after signing. Older summaries describing 15 days do not match the linked 2026 provision.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 83.575 addresses fixed-term notice clauses: a covered clause must be reciprocal and use 30 to 60 days. Its damages provisions depend on the landlord's required reminder; review the clause and reminder rather than assuming an automatic charge.

Delivery and evidence

Section 83.57 cross-references § 83.56(4). Electronic notice under § 83.505 is conditional; an ordinary email is not automatically sufficient. Verify authorized delivery and keep proof.

Avoid this mistake

Do not confuse monthly termination with a three-day rent demand. A fixed-term notice clause does not itself authorize leaving before the agreed end.

Sources and references

Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

GeorgiaO.C.G.A. § 44-7-7

Monthly notice and timing

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7 distinguishes a tenant's 30-day notice for a tenancy at will from the landlord's 60-day notice. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs handbook explains this tenant-side distinction.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the lease's notice, extension and renewal clauses. The handbook explains that continued occupancy and accepted rent after expiration can affect whether an at-will tenancy arises; do not assume every fixed lease simply disappears without further consequences.

Delivery and evidence

Identify the landlord or disclosed agent authorized to receive notices and follow the agreement's lawful procedure. Keep a dated copy and evidence of receipt. The website prepares the letter; it does not deliver it.

Avoid this mistake

The DCA handbook is revised August 2024 and flags the need to check later law. Giving notice does not by itself establish that every remaining rent obligation will be prorated.

Sources and references

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

HawaiiHRS § 521-71(b)

Monthly notice and timing

HRS § 521-71(b) gives the tenant a written-notice period of at least 28 days before the anticipated termination date. The same subsection keeps the tenant responsible for rent through the 28th day. The landlord's separate 45-day rule is not the tenant's rule.

Fixed lease and renewal

A written agreement with a definite end is a different arrangement. Check its notice and renewal provisions alongside HRS §§ 521-22 and 521-43 rather than automatically inserting a 28-day deadline.

Delivery and evidence

HRS § 521-9 addresses notice and receipt; § 521-43 concerns disclosed recipients. Check the landlord's business or designated place and any authorized agent, and keep evidence that written notice reached the appropriate recipient.

Avoid this mistake

Moving earlier and legally ending the tenancy are not always the same event. Special situations and a notice initiated by the landlord can change the analysis.

Sources and references

HRS § 521-71(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

IdahoIdaho Code § 55-208(2)

Monthly notice and timing

Idaho Code § 55-208(2) requires the tenant's written monthly notice to identify a vacation date at least one month from the notice date. A calendar month is not automatically a fixed 30-day interval.

Fixed lease and renewal

Check the actual lease end and contractual notice or renewal terms. A one-year lease with monthly installments remains different from a monthly rental.

Delivery and evidence

Subsection (2) is the tenant provision. The civil-procedure service cross-reference in subsection (1) addresses the landlord's notice; do not transfer it automatically to the tenant. Follow the applicable tenant procedure and preserve receipt evidence.

Avoid this mistake

Compare dates month-to-month, including short months. The source does not justify a universal rule that every lease can end 30 days after a letter is created.

Sources and references

Idaho Code § 55-208(2)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

IllinoisIllinois State Bar Association, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws; applicable local ordinance

Monthly notice and timing

The Illinois State Bar Association's tenant guide describes written 30-day notice ending on the rental period's last day, with agreement and local-law qualifications. This is tenant guidance, not an assertion that a single statewide calculation resolves every municipality.

Fixed lease and renewal

Check the end date, renewal terms and applicable local coverage. A clause requiring a tenant's notice can remain relevant even when the lease names an expiration date.

Delivery and evidence

Check the landlord or notice agent named in your lease and the applicable ordinance. Retain proof of actual delivery. Chicago, Cook County and Evanston should be examined under their own coverage rules.

Avoid this mistake

Chicago's landlord Fair Notice ladder and local landlord 60- or 90-day rules must not be substituted for a tenant deadline. The tool's Illinois monthly branch asks about locality; unsupported or uncertain coverage is not approved by the general summary.

Sources and references

Illinois State Bar Association, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws; applicable local ordinance

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

IndianaIC 32-31-1; Renting in Indiana tenant handbook

Monthly notice and timing

The authored Renting in Indiana handbook describes a full rental period of tenant notice for periodic arrangements. Read it with Ind. Code ch. 32-31-1 and the actual agreement; do not assume a midmonth letter plus 30 days necessarily ends a monthly period.

Fixed lease and renewal

Ind. Code § 32-31-1-8 addresses situations in which statutory notice is unnecessary, including a lease ending at an agreed time. Contractual nonrenewal and renewal terms still need review.

Delivery and evidence

Several provisions of ch. 32-31-1 describe notice served on a tenant. Those landlord-facing mechanics are not automatically the tenant's delivery rule. Check your own notice recipient and procedure and keep evidence.

Avoid this mistake

The linked handbook is the July 2020 second edition, not a new 2026 publication. Use the current code and agreement alongside it.

Sources and references

IC 32-31-1; Renting in Indiana tenant handbook

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

IowaIowa Code § 562A.34(2)

Monthly notice and timing

Iowa Code § 562A.34(2) requires written notice at least 30 days before the stated periodic rental date. Identify the rental boundary rather than treating the document date as proof of timely notice.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 562A.34(3) separately addresses terms longer than month-to-month. Read that provision with the agreement and its definite ending or renewal terms; do not reduce every longer arrangement to a monthly rental.

Delivery and evidence

Section 562A.8 includes tenant hand delivery, signed acknowledgment, delivery to an agent or employee at the business office, and actual receipt. Its specified combined regular-and-certified mailing route has its own four-day completion rule.

Avoid this mistake

One mailing method's completion rule does not validate every email, portal message or mailing. Preserve which method was actually used.

Sources and references

Iowa Code § 562A.34(2)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

KansasK.S.A. § 58-2570(b)

Monthly notice and timing

K.S.A. § 58-2570(b) requires at least 30 days' written notice before the periodic rent-paying date specified, with receipt relevant to timing. A notice written today but received later may miss the intended rental boundary.

Fixed lease and renewal

The same section distinguishes a definite term longer than 30 days from a monthly tenancy merely paid in installments. Check the agreed ending date and notice or renewal terms.

Delivery and evidence

K.S.A. § 58-2551 requires disclosure of an owner or authorized recipient for notices and demands. Check that recipient, the applicable delivery requirements and receipt timing. Keep the signed letter and delivery evidence rather than relying on a saved PDF timestamp.

Avoid this mistake

Do not add waivers or new lease terms to a straightforward tenant move-out letter. The statutory warning about landlord notices adding terms is not a reason to make the tenant surrender rights.

Sources and references

K.S.A. § 58-2570(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

LouisianaLa. Civ. Code arts. 2727–2729

Monthly notice and timing

Louisiana Civil Code art. 2728 uses 10 calendar days before the month's end for a monthly lease of unspecified duration. Do not replace that rule with a nationwide 30-day assumption or count only business days.

Fixed lease and renewal

A lease with an agreed end is different from an unspecified-duration lease. Read the expiration and renewal terms and check whether continued occupancy changes the arrangement.

Delivery and evidence

Civil Code art. 2729 addresses the form of notice for residential property. Use written notice, confirm the proper recipient and retain delivery evidence; the law also addresses timely surrender, which should not be assumed from simply creating a letter.

Avoid this mistake

The ordinary monthly rule is not an early-release right for a longer fixed lease. Confirm both the lease classification and month-end date before choosing the form.

Sources and references

La. Civ. Code arts. 2727–2729

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

Maine14 M.R.S. § 6002

Monthly notice and timing

14 M.R.S. § 6002 generally requires at least 30 days' written notice for a tenancy at will. Its paid-through-date rule also matters: do not choose an earlier termination merely because 30 days have elapsed.

Fixed lease and renewal

A fixed lease and a tenancy at will are not the same. Read the agreed end, renewal and notice clauses; a notice waiver under § 6002 has its own contemporaneous written requirements.

Delivery and evidence

Give written notice to the appropriate landlord or agent and preserve proof. The statute's alternative involving repeated attempts to serve a tenant concerns landlord-to-tenant service; it is not a general tenant mailing shortcut.

Avoid this mistake

Do not turn a landlord's statutory service substitute into permission for a tenant to use any address or method. Document actual receipt and check the agreement.

Sources and references

14 M.R.S. § 6002

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MarylandMd. Real Prop. § 8-402; Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights (2026)

Monthly notice and timing

Maryland's Tenants' Bill of Rights, effective October 1, 2026, describes at least 30 days' written tenant notice for monthly tenancies unless the lease requires longer. It distinguishes the landlord's notice period from the tenant's obligation.

Fixed lease and renewal

The same tenant guidance includes leases with a stated term in the 30-day rule unless the lease requires more time. Read automatic-renewal clauses, which have separate acknowledgment requirements. Do not treat stated expiration as proof that no notice is needed.

Delivery and evidence

Check the lease's notice recipient, address and lawful delivery procedure. Retain the letter and delivery record. Preparing a PDF is not proof of service.

Avoid this mistake

Year-to-year tenancies have a separate 90-day rule and a Baltimore City qualification in the state guidance. A one-year fixed lease and a recurring year-to-year tenancy should not be confused.

Sources and references

Md. Real Prop. § 8-402; Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights (2026)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MassachusettsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12

Monthly notice and timing

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12 requires written notice to end a tenancy at will. Where payment intervals are under three months, the statutory interval is the rent-payment interval or 30 days, whichever is longer. Check the proper rental-period ending as well.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read whether the lease ends, self-extends or renews, and whether it requires advance tenant notice. The tenancy-at-will rule does not automatically release a tenant from a fixed lease before its end.

Delivery and evidence

Give the written notice to the correct landlord or authorized recipient, allowing time for delivery. Keep evidence of receipt and the period covered; a letter's date alone does not establish notice.

Avoid this mistake

A full payment interval can differ from 30 calendar days. Do not copy nonpayment or landlord eviction provisions into an ordinary tenant notice.

Sources and references

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MichiganMCL § 554.134(1)

Monthly notice and timing

MCL § 554.134(1) uses one month's notice for a tenancy at will or by sufferance and addresses a notice interval equal to the payment interval where rent is payable at intervals shorter than three months. Its treatment of an off-boundary ending date matters; a simple 30-day counter can misstate the result.

Fixed lease and renewal

A recurring year-to-year tenancy under subsection (3) is not every lease originally signed for one year. Read the actual expiration, extension and tenant notice terms.

Delivery and evidence

Identify the authorized landlord recipient and keep proof of delivery. MCL §§ 600.5716 and 600.5718 concern possession demands and service in another context; they are not a universal safe harbor for a tenant's own departure letter.

Avoid this mistake

Confirm the tenancy classification and lawful contractual terms before calculating an end. Do not assume every midmonth date ends rent liability.

Sources and references

MCL § 554.134(1)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MinnesotaMinn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.144

Monthly notice and timing

Minn. Stat. § 504B.135 requires written notice for a tenancy at will. The interval must be at least the time between rent due dates, capped at three months. A calendar rental interval should not automatically be replaced by 30 days.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the lease's actual notice clause. Section 504B.145 addresses landlord reminders for covered automatic renewals of at least two months, and § 504B.144 concerns early renewal demands. These are distinct from a universal fixed-end 30-day rule.

Delivery and evidence

Check the agreement's notice address and method and keep proof that the landlord or authorized agent received the writing. The date the PDF was downloaded is not a receipt date.

Avoid this mistake

A fixed lease, an at-will rental and an automatic-renewal provision need separate treatment. The linked statute is the official published 2025 text; the research also checked the relevant 2026 affected-section list.

Sources and references

Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.144

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MississippiMiss. Code § 89-8-19

Monthly notice and timing

Miss. Code § 89-8-19 uses written monthly termination notice at least 30 days before the stated termination date. The cited enacted SB 2461 text includes the notice provision; a failed or introduced proposal should not be treated as a replacement law.

Fixed lease and renewal

Check whether the agreement has a definite term and a notice or renewal requirement. Do not use the ordinary monthly letter as a promise that a longer lease can be ended early.

Delivery and evidence

Confirm the landlord's notice recipient and the applicable delivery requirements, keep a signed copy and retain evidence of receipt. The form does not establish that delivery occurred.

Avoid this mistake

This explanation concerns ordinary private residential notice. Breach, special termination rights and protected housing situations require a different review.

Sources and references

Miss. Code § 89-8-19

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060(4)(1)

Monthly notice and timing

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060(4)(1) requires written notice ending the monthly tenancy on a periodic rent-paying date at least one month after receipt. Subsection (3) also addresses qualifying monthly arrangements. Do not automatically translate one month into 30 days.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 441.070 addresses an agreed definite end. Review renewal and notice clauses separately, particularly if the landlord accepts continued occupancy or another agreement is made.

Delivery and evidence

Use the proper party or authorized agent and document actual receipt. A deadline should not be calculated solely from when the letter was typed or signed.

Avoid this mistake

The statute also treats certain mobile-home arrangements separately. This guide does not apply an ordinary apartment summary to an owned-home space rental.

Sources and references

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060(4)(1)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

MontanaMCA § 70-24-441(2)–(3)

Monthly notice and timing

MCA § 70-24-441(2) permits written monthly notice at least 30 days before the designated end date, given during the tenancy. Subsection (3) allows the tenancy to end without waiting for the rent-payment period to expire; agreed rent terms still matter.

Fixed lease and renewal

MCA § 70-24-205 addresses continuation where an extension is not established and neither party gives the specified 30-day written notice. Do not assume a fixed end always means there is no notice question.

Delivery and evidence

Check the notice and receipt provisions and the landlord's designated recipient. Retain your letter and evidence of delivery; signing does not itself establish notice to the landlord.

Avoid this mistake

Montana's ordinary monthly timing differs from states that require the next rental boundary. Do not transfer Arizona's rental-date formula into this notice.

Sources and references

MCA § 70-24-441(2)–(3)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

NebraskaNeb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437(2)

Monthly notice and timing

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437(2) requires written monthly notice at least 30 days before the specified periodic rental date. Identify that rental date rather than selecting any date 30 days after drafting.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the definite lease end, renewal terms and what happens if occupancy continues. Monthly payments within a fixed lease do not alone establish a monthly tenancy.

Delivery and evidence

Section 76-1413 addresses notice and receipt. Its electronic-notice provisions involve landlord consent, acknowledgment and fallback conditions; do not assume an ordinary email is sufficient. Check the landlord's business or designated place and preserve receipt evidence.

Avoid this mistake

The consent and acknowledgment requirements are important even if email has been used for routine repairs. Routine communication is not automatic approval of termination service.

Sources and references

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437(2)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

New HampshireRSA 540:11

Monthly notice and timing

N.H. RSA § 540:11 allows a tenant to end an at-will monthly tenancy on 30 days' notice. If the date does not coincide with the rent due date, the tenant can owe rent through the next due date unless the lease says otherwise.

Fixed lease and renewal

Check the actual agreement, its ending date and any lawful notice or renewal obligation. A monthly termination rule does not automatically supply an early-release right under a fixed lease.

Delivery and evidence

Section 540:11(I) discusses written notice and the manner and effect of notice. Confirm the proper procedure and retain delivery evidence; do not infer that ordinary email always works.

Avoid this mistake

An off-cycle termination date and a prorated final bill are different questions. Moving earlier does not necessarily eliminate the balance of the rental month.

Sources and references

RSA 540:11

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

New JerseyNew Jersey DCA Lease Information Bulletin; N.J.S.A. 46:8-10 for holdover classification

Monthly notice and timing

New Jersey DCA's tenant lease guidance describes written notice spanning a full rental month, subject to lawful agreement requirements. It is not simply any 30-day interval. Review the period covered and the lease's notice clause.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read nonrenewal, renewal and continued-occupancy provisions. N.J.S.A. § 46:8-10 concerns post-term occupancy and accepted rent absent a contrary agreement; a fixed lease and its later holdover may be different arrangements.

Delivery and evidence

Deliver to the landlord or designated notice agent under the applicable procedure and preserve evidence. N.J.S.A. § 2A:18-56 is framed around possession proceedings, not a universal tenant delivery checklist.

Avoid this mistake

The linked DCA lease bulletin is dated May 2010; the research also used the official 2026 compilation. Do not infer a universal 60- or 90-day tenant rule, automatic early release or release of only one cotenant.

Sources and references

New Jersey DCA Lease Information Bulletin; N.J.S.A. 46:8-10 for holdover classification

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

New MexicoNMSA 1978, § 47-8-37(B)

Monthly notice and timing

NMSA 1978, § 47-8-37(B) requires a tenant's written monthly notice at least 30 days before the specified periodic rental date. The periodic date matters as well as the number of days.

Fixed lease and renewal

Sections 47-8-14 and 47-8-15 distinguish lawful agreement terms and a definite-term lease from default monthly arrangements. Read the actual end, notice clause and any continuation agreement.

Delivery and evidence

Section 47-8-13(C)(2) addresses owner receipt at the business through which the agreement was made or a designated communication place. The resident-posting provision in subsection (D) is not the tenant's general delivery permission.

Avoid this mistake

The state law library's resource guide is a starting point; use its current-statute links and check local rules. Posting something at the rental home does not prove the owner received the tenant's notice.

Sources and references

NMSA 1978, § 47-8-37(B)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

New YorkN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 232-b (outside NYC)

Monthly notice and timing

N.Y. Real Property Law § 232-b applies outside New York City and uses at least one month before the monthly term expires. Do not apply this outside-city tenant rule to a New York City property without checking the distinct law and agreement.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 232-b has a definite-term exception, while § 232-c addresses continued occupancy and accepted rent with an agreement qualification. Read fixed-end notice and renewal terms separately.

Delivery and evidence

For New York City ordinary unregulated rentals, review the tenant's contractual notice terms. Section 232-a concerns landlord removal notice; it does not create a universal NYC tenant 30-day rule. Preserve proof of the tenant's actual notice.

Avoid this mistake

Rent-regulated, subsidized and other protected tenancies require separate review. The landlord's 30/60/90-day framework must not be used as the tenant's own deadline.

Sources and references

N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 232-b (outside NYC)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

North CarolinaN.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14

Monthly notice and timing

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14 supplies an ordinary monthly default of seven days' notice tied to ending the tenancy period. Review any different agreed notice terms rather than assuming seven days from drafting always determines the end.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the actual fixed end, notice and renewal clauses. A recurring year-to-year tenancy is distinct from a one-year lease that ends on a particular date.

Delivery and evidence

Use a written letter for a clear record, confirm the correct landlord or notice agent and the applicable delivery requirements, and keep proof. The tool does not send notice.

Avoid this mistake

Section 42-14 separately specifies 60 days for rental of a manufactured-home space. The ordinary apartment rule must not be applied to that arrangement.

Sources and references

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

North DakotaN.D.C.C. § 47-16-15(2), (4), (5)

Monthly notice and timing

N.D.C.C. § 47-16-15(2) uses one calendar month's written notice for a tenancy monthly from the start, subject to written terms. Subsection (5) instead uses the month's last day for monthly tenancies converted under §§ 47-16-06 or 47-16-06.1.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 47-16-06.1 addresses reminders for covered automatic renewals. Section 47-16-15(4) adds initialing requirements for certain longer notice clauses. Read the signed lease and reminder before deciding which branch applies.

Delivery and evidence

Keep the written notice, the delivery record and evidence of whether the tenancy began monthly or converted after a fixed term. The same rent-payment frequency does not answer that question.

Avoid this mistake

One calendar month and 30 days are not interchangeable. The form asks how the monthly tenancy began because that can change the permitted ending date.

Sources and references

N.D.C.C. § 47-16-15(2), (4), (5)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

OhioOhio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B)

Monthly notice and timing

Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B) uses at least 30 days before the periodic rental date for ordinary monthly termination. The date must fit the rental cycle; it is not automatically any date 30 days after signing.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the lease's end, notice and renewal clauses. A fixed lease does not become monthly solely because the rent is paid in monthly installments.

Delivery and evidence

Use a written notice to create a reliable record, identify the proper landlord or agent and follow the applicable delivery requirements. Subsection (B) states the timing rule without itself spelling out a universal writing or service procedure.

Avoid this mistake

The statute's breach-related subsections address different situations. Do not copy a landlord's eviction procedure into a tenant's routine departure letter.

Sources and references

Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

Oklahoma41 O.S. § 111(A), (E)

Monthly notice and timing

41 O.S. § 111(A) requires written monthly notice at least 30 days before the stated termination date. Lawful service matters to the interval; creating or downloading a letter does not start a verified legal clock.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 111(C) treats a definite end differently unless the agreement provides otherwise. Review § 110 and the lease's notice or renewal language before assuming no further notice is needed.

Delivery and evidence

Section 111(E) provides for personal service on the landlord or the agent identified under § 116 and addresses certified mail when personal service cannot be made. Check the actual conditions; tenant-family or premises-posting substitutes concern the opposite direction.

Avoid this mistake

The correct recipient and method are part of notice, not an optional afterthought. Preserve evidence of the delivery actually used.

Sources and references

41 O.S. § 111(A), (E)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

OregonORS 90.427(3)(a), 90.155, 90.160

Monthly notice and timing

ORS § 90.427 generally uses at least 30 days' tenant notice for an ordinary monthly tenancy. ORS § 90.160 addresses counting, including exclusion of the first day; this is different from verifying when notice was legally served.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 90.427 has continuation rules, including monthly conversion after the first year unless a qualifying notice, new lease or other statutory branch applies. Do not assume the printed fixed-end date always ends every obligation.

Delivery and evidence

ORS § 90.155 addresses personal delivery, first-class mail and authorized alternatives. Mailing can require three additional days. Termination by email is conditional and involves the required agreement and first-class mailing; routine email alone is not enough.

Avoid this mistake

Landlord termination protections and tenant move-out notice are distinct. Check the relevant branch and service method before fixing your end date.

Sources and references

ORS 90.427(3)(a), 90.155, 90.160

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

PennsylvaniaNorth Penn Legal Services, Self-help Handbook for Tenants

Monthly notice and timing

North Penn Legal Services' 2025 tenant handbook explains notice under the written lease and describes one month's notice for an oral monthly arrangement. This is authored tenant guidance, not a claim that Pennsylvania has a universal tenant 30-day statute.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the lease's nonrenewal deadline, automatic extension and permitted method. A definite end does not justify ignoring a separate notice clause or assuming early release.

Delivery and evidence

The handbook recommends written notice and retaining a copy and delivery record. Identify the landlord or authorized agent and follow the agreement's applicable requirements.

Avoid this mistake

The landlord's statutory Notice to Quit periods are not the tenant's own move-out rule. Subsidized housing and manufactured-home communities have separate issues outside this ordinary private-rental summary.

Sources and references

North Penn Legal Services, Self-help Handbook for Tenants

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

Rhode IslandR.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-37(b), 34-18-56(c)

Monthly notice and timing

R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37(b) requires at least 30 days' written notice and refers to the statutory form. State housing guidance treats the termination date as the first day following the final rental period; distinguish that date from the last day you occupy the home.

Fixed lease and renewal

Review the actual ending date and notice or renewal requirements. A recurring year-to-year tenancy has a separate three-month provision in § 34-18-37(c); it is not every one-year fixed lease.

Delivery and evidence

Check §§ 34-18-56 and 34-18-14, use the landlord's notice address and keep proof of the delivery actually made. Do not certify mailing unless mailing really occurred.

Avoid this mistake

Do not silently turn a tenant letter into a landlord eviction form. The template needs tenant-facing intent, correct period alignment and truthful delivery statements.

Sources and references

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-37(b), 34-18-56(c)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

South CarolinaS.C. Code § 27-40-770(b)

Monthly notice and timing

S.C. Code § 27-40-770(b) provides for written monthly termination notice at least 30 days before the stated ending date. Its wording should not be replaced with another state's periodic-rental-date formula.

Fixed lease and renewal

Check § 27-40-310 and the actual definite-term agreement, especially notice and renewal clauses. Paying every month does not itself erase the fixed ending date.

Delivery and evidence

Section 27-40-240 addresses notice and receipt, including the landlord's business or designated place. Confirm who is authorized to receive the letter and keep a copy and delivery evidence.

Avoid this mistake

This ordinary departure guide does not determine special protected-tenant termination rights or resolve a lease breach. Those circumstances need separate analysis.

Sources and references

S.C. Code § 27-40-770(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

South DakotaSDCL § 43-32-15

Monthly notice and timing

SDCL § 43-32-15 addresses renewal of an unspecified-term rental unless advance notice equals the implied term, capped at one month. This is a one-month framework, not a universal 30-day interval.

Fixed lease and renewal

Section 43-32-22 concerns expiration of an agreed term, while § 43-32-14 addresses continuation and accepted rent. Read the actual agreement and what happened after any fixed end.

Delivery and evidence

Use a written letter as a practical record, check the proper recipient and applicable delivery requirements, and preserve proof. Section 43-32-15 alone should not be described as an express universal written-service prescription.

Avoid this mistake

Determine the implied rental term and the period boundary before choosing a date. A lease's original length and its current legal classification may differ.

Sources and references

SDCL § 43-32-15

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

TennesseeTenn. Code § 66-28-512(b); Smith v. Holt, 193 S.W.2d 100 (1945)

Monthly notice and timing

In counties covered by Tennessee's URLTA, Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b) uses written notice at least 30 days before the specified periodic rental date. Confirm county coverage rather than assuming one calculation applies statewide.

Fixed lease and renewal

A definite lease end and a periodic holdover are different. Read the contract's expiration, renewal and notice terms before selecting a monthly branch.

Delivery and evidence

Outside URLTA, Smith v. Holt, 193 S.W.2d 100 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1945), discusses full-period notice before the period ends for the periodic holdover tenancy there. Verify classification, contractual terms and delivery evidence rather than calling it a universal 30-day law.

Avoid this mistake

Coverage was preserved by 2021 Public Chapter 182; later population growth alone is not a sufficient coverage test. The form asks for the property county for this reason.

Sources and references

Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b); Smith v. Holt, 193 S.W.2d 100 (1945)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

TexasTex. Prop. Code § 91.001

Monthly notice and timing

Texas Property Code § 91.001 ordinarily ends a monthly tenancy on the later of the specified termination date or one month after notice. It does not always require the last day of a calendar month, and one month is not automatically 30 days.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the lease's actual end and nonrenewal terms. Section 91.001 also recognizes a signed agreement providing a different notice period or no notice; do not assume the statutory default overrides every such clause.

Delivery and evidence

Identify the lawful notice method and recipient under the agreement and applicable law. Keep the written letter and delivery evidence, including when notice was actually given.

Avoid this mistake

Check rent through the effective termination date. A tenant-selected 30/60/90-day shortcut in the General letter is not a determination that § 91.001 has been satisfied.

Sources and references

Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

Vermont9 V.S.A. § 4456(d); Burlington Code § 18-29a(b)

Monthly notice and timing

9 V.S.A. § 4456(d) generally requires actual notice at least one rental-payment period before the specified end, unless inconsistent with a written agreement or otherwise provided by law. Burlington Code § 18-29a(b) instead uses two rental periods, with its written-agreement qualification.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the written agreement and any notice or renewal requirements. Identify whether the property is in Burlington; the local tenant rule is not the landlord's separate 90/120-day framework.

Delivery and evidence

9 V.S.A. § 4451(1) defines actual notice around receipt of written hand-delivered or mailed notice and includes a rebuttable three-day mailing presumption when the specified mailing is proved. Preserve evidence rather than assuming receipt.

Avoid this mistake

A rental period is not necessarily 30 days. The form separates Burlington and other locations because the notice obligation can differ.

Sources and references

9 V.S.A. § 4456(d); Burlington Code § 18-29a(b)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

VirginiaVa. Code § 55.1-1253(A)

Monthly notice and timing

Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A) generally uses written notice at least 30 days before the next rent due date unless the agreement sets a different notice period. Verify both the actual clause and the rental date.

Fixed lease and renewal

Read the lease's ending date and nonrenewal or extension provisions. A fixed term is not automatically a monthly tenancy because payments are monthly.

Delivery and evidence

Section 55.1-1202 addresses notice and receipt, including the landlord's business or designated place and lease-authorized electronic notice with proof. Routine electronic communication is not itself a complete legal-service analysis.

Avoid this mistake

Use the provision effective for the relevant date. The official site may display later-effective versions; do not apply a future nonpayment provision to today's ordinary tenant move-out.

Sources and references

Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A)

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

WashingtonRCW 59.18.200(1)(a), version effective until January 1, 2028

Monthly notice and timing

RCW § 59.18.200(1)(a), in the version effective until January 1, 2028, requires a tenant's written notice at least 20 days before the rental period ends. An arbitrary date 20 days after signing is not the same calculation.

Fixed lease and renewal

RCW § 59.18.650(1)(f) addresses a tenant's written notice at least 20 days before the agreed ending date. Read § 59.18.220 and the actual lease as well; do not assume a fixed expiration eliminates notice.

Delivery and evidence

Check the applicable notice procedure, recipient and receipt evidence. Retain the signed letter and delivery record; the tool does not send it.

Avoid this mistake

The official page displays a later-effective 2028 version too. Use the version applicable to your tenancy date, and review special grounds such as qualifying military orders separately.

Sources and references

RCW 59.18.200(1)(a), version effective until January 1, 2028

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

West VirginiaW. Va. Code § 37-6-5

Monthly notice and timing

W. Va. Code § 37-6-5 uses notice of one full period before a periodic term ends, while recognizing an agreement fixing a different period or no notice. Determine the actual rental boundary rather than substituting a flat 30-day counter.

Fixed lease and renewal

The same section has a definite-end exception. Read the agreement's expiration, notice and renewal terms before deciding whether the statutory exception resolves your situation.

Delivery and evidence

For tenant-given notice, § 37-6-5 identifies an owner of all or part of the premises, the owner's agent or common-law service. Keep the writing and evidence identifying the recipient and delivery.

Avoid this mistake

The statute separately discusses landlord notice to an occupant. Do not copy that direction of service into a tenant's own notice without checking the tenant provision.

Sources and references

W. Va. Code § 37-6-5

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

WisconsinWis. Stat. §§ 704.19, 704.21

Monthly notice and timing

Wis. Stat. §§ 704.19 and 704.21 and the DATCP tenant guide address written monthly notice of at least 28 days before the next rent due date, subject to applicable agreement terms. Count the rental boundary as well as the interval.

Fixed lease and renewal

A fixed six- or twelve-month lease ordinarily expires under its terms, but check contractual notice and automatic renewal. Section 704.15 addresses a landlord reminder 15 to 30 days before the tenant's deadline for covered automatic-renewal provisions.

Delivery and evidence

Section 704.21(2) addresses tenant service, including personal delivery and registered or certified mail. Verify the applicable recipient and method and retain proof.

Avoid this mistake

Do not treat the landlord's renewal reminder as the tenant's own move-out notice. Manufactured-home community arrangements have separate rules outside this apartment guide.

Sources and references

Wis. Stat. §§ 704.19, 704.21

Research reviewed October 25, 2026. Source publication dates and later-effective versions matter; follow the linked authority and check your agreement and locality before relying on a deadline.

Common questions

Is this a notice from the tenant or an eviction notice?

This guide concerns the tenant notifying the landlord about an intended departure or nonrenewal. A landlord’s rent demand, notice to quit or eviction process is different. Do not substitute one side’s statutory deadline or service procedure for the other.

Does choosing more days always make my notice valid?

No. The right period boundary, recipient, method, agreement and local coverage still matter. A 60-day letter can be incorrectly served or identify a date that does not fit the applicable rule.

Can I change the letter’s wording?

Yes. The tool allows direct edits to the title and letter text. Review every name and date after changing a paragraph. An edit does not change the underlying law, and the tool asks you to reconfirm signatures and the acknowledgment after relevant changes.

What if my location or situation is not covered?

Use the General letter guide to understand document preparation, then independently establish the applicable requirements. The General tool does not determine compliance. Get local legal help for unclear clauses, protected tenancies, early termination or disputes.

Do these articles cover security-deposit deadlines too?

These articles focus on notice and preparation. Keep move-out photos, inspection records, a key-return record and any required forwarding details, but consult the applicable deposit rules separately rather than assuming the notice deadline also controls deposit return.

How to use the sources

The state summaries draw on the statutes, enacted texts, court materials and authored government, bar or legal-aid guidance linked in each section. A handbook is identified as guidance rather than silently relabeled as statutory text. Older publication dates are noted where important. The review date is an editorial research date, not a guarantee that every municipal ordinance, decision or later amendment has been checked.

Use the sources to verify the exact language and version applicable to your tenancy. When a page displays more than one effective version, check the dates. A proposed bill or a landlord-only provision should not be used as the tenant’s current notice rule. The guide does not calculate or certify a deadline for an individual case.