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Notice to Vacate

End a month-to-month tenancy the right way. Landlord and tenant versions, the earliest lawful end date for your state, and a clean PDF to sign and deliver.

1. Notice type and state

California: Notice to vacate (landlord)

At least 60 days if every tenant has lived there 1 year or more; at least 30 days if anyone has lived there less than 1 year.

Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c) (checked 2026-10-13). All California rules

2. Who and where

Every adult on the lease.

Street, city, ZIP.

3. Notice details

Leave blank for the earliest lawful date.

4. Serving the notice

Goes on the proof of service.

Personal delivery; or, if the tenant is absent from home and work, leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion and mailing a copy; or, if neither works, posting a copy in a conspicuous place on the property, giving a copy to a person living there if one can be found, and mailing a copy. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1162(a)

5. Sign

Deadline

Pick a service date

Pick the date you will serve the notice.

Still blank (prints as a line to fill by hand): tenant names, property address, landlord name, service date.

Made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to our server.

NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF TENANCY

State of California

To (tenants): ____________________ (tenant names)

and all other occupants in possession of the premises

From (landlord or agent): ____________________ (landlord)

Premises: ____________________________________

Date of notice: ____________________

You are hereby notified that your tenancy of the premises listed above is terminated effective ____________________. On or before that date you are required to vacate and deliver up possession of the premises.

This notice is given at least 30 days before the termination date as required by Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c). Rent is due as usual until the termination date.

State law permits former tenants to reclaim abandoned personal property left at the former address of the tenant, subject to certain conditions. You may or may not be able to reclaim property without incurring additional costs, depending on the cost of storing the property and the length of time before it is reclaimed. In general, these costs will be lower the sooner you contact your former landlord after being notified that property belonging to you was left behind after you moved out.

Please contact the landlord to arrange a move-out inspection and the return of keys.

Tenancy ends: ____________________

Landlord or agent signature
____________________
Date

Notice period: Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c). Rules checked against the official statute on 2026-10-13.

Prepared with evictionnoticemaker.com. A template, not legal advice.

This is a template and general information, not legal advice. Local ordinances, rent control, subsidized housing and federal rules can change what you must do. Read the disclaimer.

is a Premium feature

  • • Single Notice, $7.99 one-time: proof of service, Word file and file copy for this notice.
  • • Landlord Pro, $49/year: unlimited notices, saved properties, notice log, deadline reminders.
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Landlord notice to vacate vs. tenant notice to vacate

The phrase "notice to vacate" is used by both sides. A landlord's notice to vacate (often called a notice of termination of tenancy) ends a periodic tenancy, such as month-to-month, on a future date. A tenant's notice to vacate (a notice of intent to vacate) tells the landlord the tenant is moving out. Switch between them with the notice type buttons above.

How much notice to vacate is required?

StateLandlord ends month-to-monthTenant ends month-to-monthStatute
California30 days (under 1 year), 60 days (1 year+)At least one rental periodCiv. Code § 1946.1
TexasOne month, unless a signed agreement says otherwiseSameProp. Code § 91.001
Florida30 days before the end of a monthly periodSameFla. Stat. § 83.57
New York30, 60 or 90 days by length of occupancyOne month (outside NYC)RPL §§ 226-c, 232-b
Arizona30 days before the periodic rental dateSameA.R.S. § 33-1375
WashingtonJust cause required20 days before the end of a periodRCW 59.18.650, 59.18.200
Virginia30 days before the next rent due dateSameVa. Code § 55.1-1253

Your lease can matter too: Texas and Virginia let a written agreement set a different period. For other states, see notice periods by state and check your statute.

What to put in a notice to vacate

  • The names of all tenants and the full address with unit.
  • A clear end date ("your tenancy is terminated effective November 30, 2026").
  • The notice period and the statute or lease clause it satisfies.
  • For California landlords, the abandoned-property statement required by Civil Code § 1946.1(h). We add it automatically.
  • For New York landlords, the Good Cause statement required by Real Property Law § 231-c.
  • For tenants, a forwarding address for the security deposit and a request for a move-out inspection.
  • Date and signature.

Delivering it

Deliver the notice the way your state allows and keep proof. California also allows certified or registered mail for this notice (§ 1946.1(f)). Texas allows mail, delivery inside the premises, or hand delivery to a tenant 16 or older (§ 24.005(f-3)). If you need a proof of service page, the Premium download includes one. For a 30-day notice specifically, see the 30 day notice to vacate.

Notice to vacate example: California 60-day notice of termination of tenancy with the abandoned property statement
A landlord notice to vacate for California, with the § 1946.1(h) statement added automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Can I write my own notice to vacate?

Yes. A notice to vacate is a written letter, and both landlords and tenants can write their own as long as it gives at least the notice period your state (or your lease) requires and is delivered in an allowed way. The builder above fills in the earliest lawful date for verified states.

How do I write a notice to vacate my rental property as a tenant?

Pick "Notice to vacate (tenant)", enter your name, the landlord, the address and your forwarding address for the deposit. The letter states your move-out date, the notice period it satisfies, and asks for a move-out inspection and your deposit.

Is a notice to vacate an eviction?

No. A landlord's notice to vacate ends a month-to-month tenancy at the end of the notice period. If the tenant stays past that date, the landlord still has to go to court. A tenant's notice to vacate is simply notice that they are moving out.

What happens if I don't give a 60 day notice to vacate?

If the law requires 60 days and you give less, the notice may be invalid and the tenancy keeps going. In California, for example, Civil Code § 1946.1 requires 60 days when every tenant has lived there a year or more. In New York, Real Property Law § 226-c says the tenancy continues under the existing terms until the full notice period has run.

Does a notice to vacate have to end on the last day of the month?

In some states, yes. Florida (§ 83.57) counts the notice before the end of a monthly period, and Arizona (§ 33-1375) and Virginia (§ 55.1-1253) count it before a rent due date. Our calculator lines the date up for those states when you tell it the day rent is due.

Can a landlord end a lease without a reason?

It depends on where the property is. Washington requires a statutory just cause for most terminations (RCW 59.18.650), and California's Tenant Protection Act and many cities have just cause rules. Fixed-term leases usually end on their end date, not by a notice to vacate. Check your state and city before you serve.

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Last updated · Written by the EvictionNoticeMaker editorial team and checked against the official state statutes cited on each page. Templates and general information, not legal advice.