Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out?
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.
The rule on lockouts, state by state
| State | The rule on lockouts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Unlawful ouster or a utility cut-off entitles the tenant to recover possession or terminate, plus up to two months’ rent and actual damages. | A.R.S. §§ 33-1368, 33-1377, 12-1173.01, 33-1367 |
| California | A landlord who locks out a tenant, removes belongings or cuts a utility is liable for actual damages plus $100 per day, minimum $250, and the tenant may recover possession. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1161.1, 1166, 1167, 1170.5; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 789.3, 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act) |
| Colorado | Only a sheriff executing a writ of restitution may remove a tenant in Colorado. | C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104, 13-40-107.5, 13-40-111, 13-40-122 |
| Connecticut | A lockout or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to injunctive relief and double damages. | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-15a, 47a-23, 47a-23a, 47a-26, 47a-35, 47a-43 |
| District of Columbia | Self-help eviction is illegal in the District and only the U. | D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.01, 16-1501, 16-1502; D.C. Super. Ct. L&T R. 3 |
| Florida | Cutting off utilities, changing locks or removing a tenant’s property makes the landlord liable for actual and consequential damages or three months’ rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney fees. | Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56, 83.59, 83.60, 83.62, 83.67; Fla. Stat. § 51.011 |
| Georgia | A Georgia landlord may not lock out, remove property or cut utilities; only a writ of possession executed by the sheriff or marshal may put a tenant out. | O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-51, 44-7-52, 44-7-55 |
| Illinois | The Forcible Entry and Detainer Act makes self-help eviction unlawful; the tenant may recover possession and damages. | 735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130 |
| Maryland | Only a sheriff or constable executing a warrant of restitution may evict in Maryland. | Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-401, 8-402.1; Md. Rule 3-711 |
| Massachusetts | A landlord who evicts without a court order is liable for three months’ rent or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney fees. | M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 11A, 12, 15F; c. 239, §§ 1, 8A; Uniform Summary Process Rules |
| Michigan | A landlord who uses force, changes locks or removes utilities is liable for actual damages or $200 per occurrence, whichever is greater. | MCL 554.134, 600.5714, 600.5741, 600.5744, 600.2918 |
| Minnesota | An unlawful ouster or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to recover possession, treble damages or $500 (whichever is greater) and attorney fees. | Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.135, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.345, 504B.231 |
| Nevada | A landlord who locks out or cuts utilities is liable for actual damages and up to $2,500 per violation. | NRS 40.253, 40.2512, 118A.390; JCRLV Rule 44 |
| New Jersey | A lockout is a disorderly persons offence and the tenant may be restored to possession. | 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 York | Unlawful eviction is a class A misdemeanour in New York City and the tenant may be restored to possession with treble damages. | RPAPL Article 7 (§§ 711, 731, 733, 735, 749); RPL § 235-e; Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 |
| North Carolina | Self-help eviction is unlawful in North Carolina and gives the tenant a claim for damages. | N.C.G.S. §§ 42-3, 42-26, 42-28, 42-30, 42-25.6, 42-36.2 |
| Ohio | A landlord who locks out or cuts utilities is liable for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees. | O.R.C. §§ 1923.02, 1923.04, 1923.08, 5321.15 |
| Oregon | An unlawful ouster or utility shut-off entitles the tenant to up to two months’ rent or twice their actual damages. | ORS 90.394, 90.396, 90.427, 105.113, 105.137, 90.375 |
| Pennsylvania | Only a constable or sheriff executing an order for possession may remove a tenant. | 68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.502, 250.503; Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 501–521 |
| Texas | A landlord who locks out, removes property or cuts a utility to force a tenant out is liable for one month’s rent plus $1,000, actual damages, attorney fees and costs. | Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 24.0051, 24.0061, 92.0081; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500–510 |
| Virginia | A Virginia landlord may not take possession by self-help; the tenant may recover possession and damages. | Va. Code §§ 55.1-1245, 55.1-1250, 8.01-124, 8.01-126, 55.1-1243 |
| Washington | A landlord who locks out, removes property or cuts utilities is liable for up to $100 per day plus costs and attorney fees. | 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
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in California?
No. A landlord who locks out a tenant, removes belongings or cuts a utility is liable for actual damages plus $100 per day, minimum $250, and the tenant may recover possession. Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3. In California a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1161.1, 1166, 1167, 1170.5; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 789.3, 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act).
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Texas?
No. A landlord who locks out, removes property or cuts a utility to force a tenant out is liable for one month’s rent plus $1,000, actual damages, attorney fees and costs. Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.0081, 92.008. In Texas a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 24.0051, 24.0061, 92.0081; Tex. R. Civ. P. 500–510.
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Florida?
No. Cutting off utilities, changing locks or removing a tenant’s property makes the landlord liable for actual and consequential damages or three months’ rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney fees. Fla. Stat. § 83.67. In Florida a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56, 83.59, 83.60, 83.62, 83.67; Fla. Stat. § 51.011.
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in New York?
No. Unlawful eviction is a class A misdemeanour in New York City and the tenant may be restored to possession with treble damages. RPAPL § 768; NYC Admin. Code § 26-521. In New York a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by RPAPL Article 7 (§§ 711, 731, 733, 735, 749); RPL § 235-e; Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Pennsylvania?
No. Only a constable or sheriff executing an order for possession may remove a tenant. A landlord lockout is a conversion and a trespass. In Pennsylvania a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by 68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.502, 250.503; Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 501–521.
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Illinois?
No. The Forcible Entry and Detainer Act makes self-help eviction unlawful; the tenant may recover possession and damages. 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. In Illinois a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by 735 ILCS 5/9-104, 9-209, 9-106, 9-117; Chicago RLTO § 5-12-130.
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Ohio?
No. A landlord who locks out or cuts utilities is liable for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees. O.R.C. § 5321.15. In Ohio a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by O.R.C. §§ 1923.02, 1923.04, 1923.08, 5321.15.
Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Georgia?
No. A Georgia landlord may not lock out, remove property or cut utilities; only a writ of possession executed by the sheriff or marshal may put a tenant out. In Georgia a tenant may be removed only through the court process, which is set by O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50, 44-7-51, 44-7-52, 44-7-55.
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
- How the interest works in 14 states
- Maximum deposit in 28 states
- Deadline to return the deposit in 51 states
- Notice before entry in 24 states
- Notice before a nonpayment case in 49 states
- Notice to end a tenancy in 48 states
- Notice before a rent increase in 29 states
- Maximum late fee in 17 states
- Grace period before a late fee in 14 states
- Application fee limit in 12 states
- The first step in 22 states
- Time to respond in 22 states
- Cause needed to end a tenancy in 5 states
- Labor on an appliance repair in 20 states
- Capital improvement in 8 states
- Repair labor on real property in 15 states
- How the contractor is treated in 51 states
Every rule for one state
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