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District of Columbia: eviction notice rules

How much notice a landlord must give for unpaid rent before filing an eviction case, and whether you can pay to stop it.

Checked on official source
Notice for unpaid rent10 days' written notice before filing, only if $600 or more is owed
LawD.C. Code 42-3505.01(a-1)

The notice must say the landlord may file if $600 or more remains unpaid after 30 days. This is only the notice before the landlord can file in court; a judge must still order an eviction. Properties with federally backed mortgages or subsidies often require a 30-day notice.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in District of Columbia.

How District of Columbia compares

$10 ranks 8 of 47 (1 = highest) for days of notice for unpaid rent.

Lowest $3Highest $14

Alaska: 7 days to pay or leaveAKMaine: 7 days to payMEVermont: 14 days' noticeVTNew Hampshire: 7 days' noticeNHWashington: 14 days to pay or vacateWAIdaho: 3 days to pay or leaveIDMontana: 3 days to payMTNorth Dakota: 3 days' notice once rent is 3 days lateNDMinnesota: 14 days' notice before filingMNIllinois: 5 days to payILWisconsin: 5 days to pay or vacateWIMichigan: 7 days to payMINew York: 14 days' written rent demandNYRhode Island: 5-day demand once rent is 15 days lateRIMassachusetts: 14 days' notice to quitMAOregon: 10 days' notice (72 hours for week-to-week)ORNevada: 7 judicial days to pay or leaveNVWyoming: 3 days' notice once rent is 3 days lateWYSouth Dakota: No notice; the landlord can file once rent is 3 days lateSDIowa: 3 days to payIAIndiana: 10 days to payINOhio: 3 days' notice to leaveOHPennsylvania: 10 days' notice to quitPANew Jersey: No advance notice; a written demand, then filingNJConnecticut: 3-day notice to quit after a 9-day grace periodCTCalifornia: 3 days, not counting weekends and court holidaysCAUtah: 3 business days to pay or leaveUTColorado: 10 days to pay or leaveCONebraska: 7 calendar days to payNEMissouri: No fixed period: a demand for rent, then filingMOKentucky: 7 days to pay where the uniform act has been adopted; no state period elsewhereKYWest Virginia: No pre-suit notice requiredWVVirginia: 14 days to payVAMaryland: 10 days' notice of intent to fileMDDelaware: 5 days to payDEArizona: 5 calendar days to pay or leaveAZNew Mexico: 3 days to payNMKansas: 3 days to payKSArkansas: 3 days' notice to vacate (no right to pay); 5 days on the RLTA trackARTennessee: 14 days' noticeTNNorth Carolina: 10 days to pay after a demandNCSouth Carolina: 5 days' noticeSCDistrict of Columbia: 10 days' written notice before filing, only if $600 or more is owedDCOklahoma: 5 days after a written demandOKLouisiana: 5 days to vacate (no right to pay required)LAMississippi: 3 days to payMSAlabama: 7 business days to pay or leaveALGeorgia: 3 business days to pay (leases from July 1, 2024)GAHawaii: 10 calendar days to pay (since Feb. 5, 2026)HITexas: 3 days' notice to vacate unless the lease says otherwiseTXFlorida: 3 days, not counting weekends and court holidaysFL
  • $3 (16)
  • $5 (8)
  • $7 (8)
  • $10 (8)
  • $14 (7)
  • No fixed notice (4)

Also for District of Columbia: Claim deadlines in District of Columbia · Small claims limits in District of Columbia · Property division in District of Columbia · Dog bite rules in District of Columbia · Shared fault rules in District of Columbia · Security deposit rules in District of Columbia · Property tax rates in District of Columbia · All District of Columbia rules on one page

How we checked this

Notice periods come from a statute-cited 2026 eviction survey, compared with a second 50-state statute table. States where the two disagree are marked for review. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.