How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case?

It depends on the state. Seayora holds a published statute for 21 states and the District of Columbia. The table below gives the figure for each, with the statute it comes from.

Time to respond, state by state

StateTime to respondSource
ArizonaThe hearing is set for three to six business days after the summons issues; the tenant answers at or before the hearing.A.R.S. §§ 33-1368, 33-1377, 12-1173.01, 33-1367
CaliforniaFive court days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, since AB 2343 took effect on 1 September 2019.Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1161.1, 1166, 1167, 1170.5; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 789.3, 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act)
ColoradoThe summons states the answer date, which is at least seven days and not more than fourteen days after service.C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104, 13-40-107.5, 13-40-111, 13-40-122
ConnecticutThe tenant has two days from the return date to appear, then five days to plead.Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-35, 47a-43
District of ColumbiaThe initial hearing is set several weeks out; the tenant may answer in writing or appear.D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.01, 16-1501, 16-1502; D.C. Super. Ct. L&T R. 3
FloridaFive days excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays — and in a nonpayment case the tenant must ALSO deposit the rent claimed into the court registry to be heard on the merits.Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56, 83.59, 83.60, 83.62, 83.67; Fla. Stat. § 51.011
GeorgiaSeven days from service.O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-51, 44-7-52, 44-7-55
IllinoisThe summons states the appearance date.735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130
MarylandA failure-to-pay-rent trial is held about five days after filing.Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711
MassachusettsThe answer is due on the Monday before the entry date stated in the summons.M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 11A, 12, 15F; c. 239, §§ 1, 8A; Uniform Summary Process Rules
MichiganThe hearing is held within ten days of service of the summons.MCL 554.134, 600.5714, 600.5741, 600.5744, 600.2918
MinnesotaThe hearing is held seven to fourteen days after the summons issues; the tenant appears rather than filing a written answer.Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.345, 504B.231
NevadaNevada summary eviction is unusual: the TENANT files the affidavit that opens a court file.NRS 40.253, 40.2512, 118A.390; JCRLV Rule 44
New JerseyThere is no written answer deadline.N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53, 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.2, 2A:42-10.16; N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1
New YorkThere is no separate written answer deadline in a New York City nonpayment proceeding: the tenant answers, orally or in writing, by the return date on the notice of petition, which is 10 to 17 days after service (RPAPL § 733).RPAPL Article 7 (§§ 711, 731, 733, 735, 749); RPL § 235-e; Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019
North CarolinaThe hearing is set for no more than seven days after the summons issues; there is no written answer requirement before a magistrate.N.C.G.S. §§ 42-3, 42-26, 42-28, 42-30, 42-25.6, 42-36.2
OhioThe first cause of action for possession is heard within 30 days of filing; the tenant may but need not answer in writing.O.R.C. §§ 1923.02, 1923.04, 1923.08, 5321.15
OregonThe first appearance is set about seven days after filing.ORS 90.394, 90.396, 90.427, 105.113, 105.137, 90.375
PennsylvaniaA hearing is scheduled 7 to 15 days after the complaint is filed.68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.502, 250.503; Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 501–521
TexasA tenant need not file a written answer in Texas.Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 24.0051, 24.0061, 92.0081; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500–510
VirginiaThe tenant appears on the return date printed on the summons, generally 21 to 30 days after filing.Va. Code §§ 55.1-1245, 55.1-1250, 8.01-124, 8.01-126, 55.1-1243
WashingtonThe summons gives at least seven days to respond; the eviction resolution pilot programme adds a required pre-filing step in most counties.RCW 59.18.057, 59.18.650, 59.12.030, 59.18.365, 59.18.290; RCW 59.18.630 (eviction resolution)

This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.

Only states where Seayora holds a published statute appear above. Where no statute is recorded, no figure is shown rather than a guess.

The answer in full, for the biggest rental markets

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in California?

In California, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1161.1, 1166, 1167, 1170.5; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 789.3, 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act). Five court days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, since AB 2343 took effect on 1 September 2019.

More on California

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Texas?

In Texas, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 24.0051, 24.0061, 92.0081; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500–510. A tenant need not file a written answer in Texas. The trial is set for 10 to 21 days after the petition is filed, and the tenant appears on that date.

More on Texas

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Florida?

In Florida, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56, 83.59, 83.60, 83.62, 83.67; Fla. Stat. § 51.011. Five days excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays — and in a nonpayment case the tenant must ALSO deposit the rent claimed into the court registry to be heard on the merits.

More on Florida

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in New York?

In New York, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by RPAPL Article 7 (§§ 711, 731, 733, 735, 749); RPL § 235-e; Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019. There is no separate written answer deadline in a New York City nonpayment proceeding: the tenant answers, orally or in writing, by the return date on the notice of petition, which is 10 to 17 days after service (RPAPL § 733).

More on New York

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by 68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.502, 250.503; Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 501–521. A hearing is scheduled 7 to 15 days after the complaint is filed. There is no separate written answer.

More on Pennsylvania

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Illinois?

In Illinois, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by 735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130. The summons states the appearance date. In Cook County that is typically two to three weeks after filing; the tenant appears rather than filing a written answer, though a written appearance and answer may be required for a jury demand.

More on Illinois

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Ohio?

In Ohio, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by O.R.C. §§ 1923.02, 1923.04, 1923.08, 5321.15. The first cause of action for possession is heard within 30 days of filing; the tenant may but need not answer in writing.

More on Ohio

How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Georgia?

In Georgia, the time a tenant has to respond to an eviction case is governed by O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-51, 44-7-52, 44-7-55. Seven days from service. If the seventh day is a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.

More on Georgia

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.

Other rules compared across states

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