How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in District of Columbia?
In District of Columbia, a landlord must give 30 days written notice to end a tenancy or decline to renew it. The Rental Housing Act limits eviction from almost every unit in the District to its statutory grounds. This is D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.08, 42-3505.51, 42-3505.01.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Notice required | 30 days |
Notes
Rent-stabilized increases are capped and need 30 days. Entry: 48 hours. Late rent: written notice of intent to file at least 10 days before a nonpayment case is filed (30 days until the RENTAL Act took effect on December 31, 2025), and none at all when less than $600 is owed.
Source
D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.08, 42-3505.51, 42-3505.01
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora computes the notice this rule requires from the tenancy’s own dates — for a renewal offer, a rent increase or a served notice — and will not serve one that is short unless the owner records a reason. The answer above is the rule the product enforces.
Guides on this rule
- Automatic Lease Renewal Clauses: The Notice That Makes Them Work — In New York and Wisconsin an automatic renewal clause binds a tenant only if the landlord sends a reminder 15 to 30 days before the tenant’s notice deadline.
- Can a Landlord Send an Eviction Notice by Email or Text? — The federal E-SIGN Act excludes eviction notices, so state law decides how a notice to pay or quit must be served. California, New York and Florida rules.
- Does a Landlord Have to Re-Rent When a Tenant Breaks a Lease? — The duty to mitigate after a tenant leaves early in Texas, New York, California and Washington, and Florida’s four options including a two-month fee.
- Ending a Lease Early Because of Domestic Violence: State Rules — How tenants who are victims of domestic violence can end a lease early in California, New York, Texas and Washington, and what a landlord must do.
Compare this rule in every state
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