Eviction notice rules by state
Pick your state to see how much notice your landlord must give for nonpayment of rent and how long you have to respond once a case is filed. These are statewide rules. Some cities add more protection.
Federally backed properties: the CARES Act still requires a 30-day notice for covered properties (Section 8, public housing, federally backed mortgages). Check this first.
If you got a notice, do these four things first
- The notice is not the eviction. Only a judge can order you out. A landlord who changes the locks or shuts off utilities is breaking the law in every state.
- The deadlines above are your window. Paying in full within a pay-or-quit period usually stops the case entirely.
- Show up. Many evictions are lost by default because the tenant never appears. Going to court, even without a lawyer, keeps every defense you have open: improper notice, wrong amounts, repairs your landlord ignored, retaliation.
- Free local help is available. Search your county name plus “legal aid eviction,” or call 211.
Kits For That is not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Notice periods shown are the statewide rule for nonpayment of rent; your lease, subsidized housing rules and local ordinances can change them. This lookup is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney, and laws change, so check your state’s current rules. Facts verified against official sources in August 2026.