How Much Notice to End a Month-to-Month Lease? 8 States Compared
In most of the states covered here, ending a month-to-month tenancy takes about one month's notice: 30 days in Florida, Ohio and Arizona, one month in Texas, Michigan and New York outside New York City.
Washington lets a tenant leave with 20 days' written notice before the end of a rental period (RCW 59.18.200(1)(a)), and North Carolina requires only 7 days for month-to-month (G.S. 42-14).
Several statutes count to the end of a rental period or a rent date, not just a number of days. Give written notice, keep a copy, and check your lease, which can set a different period in some states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, by state
| State | Minimum notice (month-to-month) | Counted to | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | One month | The later of the date in the notice or one month after notice is given | Prop. Code §91.001(b) |
| Florida | 30 days, in writing | The end of a monthly period | §83.57(3) |
| New York (outside NYC) | One month (tenant’s notice) | The end of the term | RPL §232-b |
| Washington | 20 days, in writing (tenant’s notice) | The end of a rental period | RCW 59.18.200(1)(a) |
| Ohio | 30 days | The periodic rental date | §5321.17(B) |
| North Carolina | 7 days | The end of the current period | G.S. 42-14 |
| Michigan | One month (or the interval between rent payments if rent is paid more often than every 3 months) | — | MCL 554.134(1) |
| Arizona | 30 days, in writing | The periodic rental date in the notice | A.R.S. §33-1375(B) |
This table covers month-to-month tenancies only. A fixed-term lease (for example, 12 months) generally ends on its end date, and its own terms control early termination.
How the end date works
Several statutes don’t just say “30 days”. They tie the end date to the rental period.
- Florida: at least 30 days’ written notice before the end of a monthly period (§83.57(3)). If rent is due on the 1st, notice given on June 10 ends the tenancy at the end of July, not on July 10.
- Ohio and Arizona: at least 30 days before the periodic rental date (Ohio §5321.17(B); A.R.S. §33-1375(B)).
- Texas: the tenancy ends on the later of the day named in the notice or one month after the notice is given (§91.001(b)). If it ends mid-period, you owe rent only up to the termination date (§91.001(d)).
- Washington: written notice of 20 days or more preceding the end of a month or rental period (RCW 59.18.200(1)(a)).
To be safe, aim your move-out for the last day of a rental period and count back from there.
Can the lease change the notice period?
In Texas, yes. The statutory rules don’t apply if you and the landlord signed an agreement setting a different notice period or saying no notice is needed (§91.001(e)). Read the “notice” or “termination” clause of your lease before you send anything.
Other periods
| State | Week-to-week | Year-to-year | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7 days before the end of a weekly period | 60 days before the end of an annual period | §83.57(1), (4) |
| Ohio | 7 days | — | §5321.17(A) |
| North Carolina | 2 days | One month before the end of the year | G.S. 42-14 |
| Arizona | 10 days, in writing | — | A.R.S. §33-1375(A) |
Military tenants in Washington
A tenant who is a member of the armed forces (including the National Guard and reserves), or that tenant’s spouse or dependent, may end a rental agreement with less than 20 days’ written notice after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders that don’t allow 20 days (RCW 59.18.200(1)(b)).
Common questions
Q. Does my notice have to be in writing?
A. Florida, Washington and Arizona say so expressly (§83.57; RCW 59.18.200(1)(a); A.R.S. §33-1375). Even where a statute doesn’t, written notice with a date is your proof. Send it in a way you can track and keep a copy.
Q. I gave notice but stayed past the end date. What happens?
A. In Arizona, if a tenant stays without the landlord’s consent after the tenancy ends and the holdover is willful and not in good faith, the landlord may recover up to two months’ rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater (A.R.S. §33-1375(C)). Move out by the date in your notice.
Statutes (official text): Tex. Prop. Code §91.001 · Fla. Stat. §83.57 · N.Y. Real Prop. Law §232-b · RCW 59.18.200 · Ohio Rev. Code §5321.17 · N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-14 · MCL 554.134 · A.R.S. §33-1375
This page explains the statute in general terms and is not legal advice. Local ordinances, your lease and court decisions can add rules. Found an error or a law change? Tell us.