30-Day Notice to Vacate Template: What It Must Say, State by State
A free 30- and 60-day notice to vacate template, what the notice must include, and the notice California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois require.
By Seayora Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked · 5 min read
Short answer: A notice to vacate is the landlord’s written notice that a month-to-month tenancy, or a lease that will not be renewed, ends on a stated date. How much notice it must give is set by state law and often by how long the tenant has lived there: 30 days in Florida and Illinois, one month in Texas, 30 or 60 days in California, and 30, 60 or 90 days in New York. Where a just-cause law applies, the notice must also give a lawful reason.
Key takeaways
- California requires 60 days’ notice to end a periodic tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than a year (Civ. Code § 1946.1).
- New York requires 30, 60 or 90 days’ notice of a non-renewal, depending on whether the tenant has been there under one year, one to two years, or two years or more, and the notice must carry the Good Cause notice (RPL § 226-c).
- Texas requires one month’s notice to end a month-to-month tenancy unless a lease signed by both sides sets a different period (Prop. Code § 91.001).
- Florida requires 30 days’ notice before the end of a monthly period (Fla. Stat. § 83.57), and Illinois 30 days (735 ILCS 5/9-207).
- A notice to vacate ends a tenancy; it does not evict anyone. If the tenant stays, only a court can order them out.
What is a notice to vacate?
It is the written notice a landlord gives to end a tenancy that has no fixed end date, such as a month-to-month tenancy, or to say that a lease will not be renewed. It is different from a notice for unpaid rent, which demands payment or possession within a few days and is the first step of a nonpayment case: that one is covered in our pay rent or quit notice guide. Tenants give notice to vacate too, usually with the same period the statute sets for the landlord or the length of one rental period.
How much notice does a landlord have to give?
| State | Notice the landlord must give | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| California | 60 days; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year | Civ. Code § 1946.1 |
| New York | 30 days if under one year; 60 days for one to two years; 90 days for two years or more. The same applies to a rent increase of 5% or more (how the 30, 60 and 90-day rule works). | Real Prop. Law § 226-c |
| Texas | One month, unless a lease signed by both parties sets a different period | Prop. Code § 91.001 |
| Florida | 30 days before the end of a monthly period | Fla. Stat. § 83.57 |
| Illinois | 30 days | 735 ILCS 5/9-207 |
Every state sets its own period, and some count it from the end of a rental period rather than from the day of delivery. Notice to end a tenancy in all 50 states and DC lists each one with its statute.
Does the landlord need a reason to end a tenancy?
Not under the general rules in the table, but often under a just-cause law. New York’s notice must say whether the unit is covered by the Good Cause Eviction Law and, if it is, the lawful basis for not renewing (Real Prop. Law § 226-c); our Good Cause guide explains the grounds. Just-cause eviction rules by state shows where else a reason is required. During the lease term of a Section 8 voucher tenancy, the owner may end it only for a serious or repeated lease violation, a violation of law or other good cause (24 CFR § 982.310).
What should a notice to vacate include?
- The date of the notice.
- Every tenant named on the lease, and “all other occupants”.
- The full address of the unit, including the unit number.
- The date the tenancy ends. Where the statute ties the end to a rental period, as Florida’s does, make it the last day of a period.
- The notice period and the statute that sets it.
- Any statement your state or city requires, such as New York’s Good Cause notice, and the reason where a just-cause law applies.
- Where to return the keys, and a request for a forwarding address for the security deposit.
- The landlord’s or agent’s name, address, phone and signature.
- How and when the notice was delivered, which you will need to prove if the tenant stays.
Notice to vacate template
Copy the text below, fill in every bracketed field, and delete any line that does not apply in your state. It is a starting point, not a form your state has approved.
NOTICE TO VACATE
Date: [date]. To: [names of every tenant on the lease], and all other occupants. Premises: [street address, unit number, city, state, ZIP].
Your month-to-month tenancy of the premises above will end on [termination date]. You must move out and return possession of the premises to the landlord by that date.
This notice gives you [30, 60 or 90] days’ notice, as [state statute] requires. [Where a just-cause law applies, state the lawful reason here.] [In New York, attach the Good Cause notice required by Real Property Law § 231-c.]
Please return all keys to [name and address]. Your security deposit will be returned, less any lawful deductions, as [state] law requires. Please give us your forwarding address in writing.
Landlord or agent: [name, address, phone, email]. Signature: [signature].
Proof of delivery: this notice was delivered to [tenant] on [date] by [method: hand delivery, mail, or another method the statute allows].
How should the notice be delivered?
The statute that sets the period usually says how it may be delivered. Florida, for example, allows mailing, delivering a copy, email as § 83.505 permits, or leaving a copy at the home if the tenant is absent, and a lease cannot waive those requirements (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(4)). Keep a record of the date and method. Whether email or a text message counts is covered in our guide to serving notices by email or text.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a landlord have to give to end a month-to-month tenancy?
It depends on the state: 30 days in Florida and Illinois, one month in Texas, 30 or 60 days in California depending on how long the tenant has lived there, and 30, 60 or 90 days in New York. Our 50-state page lists every state with its statute.
Is a 30-day notice to vacate the same as an eviction?
No. It ends the tenancy on a date. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord must go to court; only a court can order a tenant out.
Does a landlord need a reason to give a notice to vacate?
Not in many states, but a just-cause law such as New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law requires a lawful reason for not renewing a covered tenancy.
State-by-state rules
- How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy? — compared across 46 states
Sources
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1, Notice to terminate a periodic tenancy, California Legislative Information
- N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 226-c, Notice of rent increase or non-renewal of residential tenancy, New York State Senate
- Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001, Notice for terminating certain tenancies, Texas Legislature
- Fla. Stat. § 83.57, Termination of tenancy without specific term, Florida Legislature
- Fla. Stat. § 83.56, Termination of rental agreement, Florida Legislature
- 735 ILCS 5/9-207, Notice to terminate tenancy for less than a year, Illinois General Assembly
- 24 CFR § 982.310, Owner termination of tenancy, eCFR
How Seayora helps
Lease renewals: See the last day to serve a non-renewal for each expiring lease, worked out from the statute where the unit is.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes often, so check the current rule for your property and talk to an attorney before acting on a dispute.
How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.
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