District of Columbia Eviction Notice

Create a proper District of Columbia eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.

Reflects current District of Columbia rules · 2026 Official source linked Free PDF · no signup · nothing uploaded

Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.

What happens after the notice in District of Columbia

If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are District of Columbia’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.

What the case is called. In District of Columbia an eviction lawsuit is a(n) forcible entry and detainer (complaint for restitution of possession) action. — D.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 15 ↗
Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Landlord and Tenant Branch). — D.C. Code § 16-1501(a) ↗
How to serve the notice. Nonpayment notice: by certified mail or tracked delivery service (return receipt) AND by hand delivery to the unit or posting on the front door; notices for other reasons served on tenant and Rent Administrator. — D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)(3) (as amended through D.C. Law 26-108, Apr. 16, 2026) ↗
No self-help. D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1): no tenant may be evicted for any reason unless served a compliant written notice; required notice text states 'Only a court can order your eviction.' — D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1) and (a-1)(2) ↗

Each point links to the District of Columbia source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.

District of Columbia notice periods · as of 2026

Non-payment of rent: 10 days
Lease violation (cure): 30 days
End month-to-month: 30 days

Source: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1) (RENTAL Act, D.C. Law 26-80, eff. 12/31/2025); § 42-3202 · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.

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Types of eviction notice

Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.

District of Columbia notice period & service

The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by District of Columbia law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current District of Columbia eviction rules before serving.

If the tenant moves out still owing rent, the notice won’t collect it. Put the amount and a deadline in writing with a District of Columbia demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in District of Columbia small claims court, where the limit is $10,000.

Frequently asked questions

How many days notice do I have to give in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 10 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1) (RENTAL Act, D.C. Law 26-80, eff. 12/31/2025); § 42-3202. Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.

How do I serve the notice in District of Columbia?

States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow District of Columbia’s method carefully.

Do I need a lawyer?

Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in District of Columbia.

Where does a landlord file an eviction case in District of Columbia?

If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (Landlord and Tenant Branch) (the case is called a(n) forcible entry and detainer (complaint for restitution of possession) action). Source: D.C. Code § 16-1501(a).

How must an eviction notice be served in District of Columbia?

Nonpayment notice: by certified mail or tracked delivery service (return receipt) AND by hand delivery to the unit or posting on the front door; notices for other reasons served on tenant and Rent Administrator. Source: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)(3) (as amended through D.C. Law 26-108, Apr. 16, 2026).

How does District of Columbia compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.

How District of Columbia compares

Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for District of Columbia: D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1) (RENTAL Act, D.C. Law 26-80, eff. 12/31/2025); § 42-3202 ↗.

Notice to pay rent or quit

Notice to pay rent or quit: 10 days — about 2× the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.

Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Maryland (10 days), Virginia (14 days).

Notice to cure a lease violation

Notice to cure a lease violation: 30 days — about 2× the national median of 14 days across the 38 states with a statutory rule.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 7 other states.

Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Maryland (30 days), Virginia (21 days).

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Maryland (60 days), Virginia (30 days).

The rest of what District of Columbia requires

The figures below are District of Columbia's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full District of Columbia page for that document.

Security deposit cap · as of 2026: 1 month's rent D.C. Code §42-3502.17; 14 DCMR 308-311 ↗
Deposit return deadline · as of 2026: 45 days after move-out D.C. Code §42-3502.17; 14 DCMR 308-311 ↗
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026: 30 days D.C. Code §42-3502.17; 14 DCMR 308-311 ↗
Small claims limit · as of 2026: $10,000 D.C. Code §11-1321 ↗
Where you file · as of 2026: Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, Civil Division, Superior Court of the District of Columbia · filing fee $5 (claims up to $500) / $10 ($500.01-$2,500) / $45 ($2,500.01-$10,000), plus service costs D.C. Code §11-1321 ↗
Rental application fee · as of July 2026: Capped at $54 in 2026 (CPI-adjusted $50 base) D.C. Council Code ↗
Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026: Not required DC DMV / DMV.ORG ↗
Power of attorney signing · as of 2026: Notarization required D.C. Code §21-2601.05 (form §21-2603.01) ↗
LLC operating agreement · as of 2026: Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules D.C. Code § 29-801.02(10) ↗
Recording a deed · as of 2026: Recorder of Deeds (DC Office of Recorder of Deeds — single district-wide office) · no witnesses D.C. Code § 42-401 ↗

Eviction notice in other states

More District of Columbia legal forms

Different state? See eviction notices by state →