Ohio Eviction Notice
Create a proper Ohio 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.
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 Ohio
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Ohio’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Municipal Court or County Court (also Court of Common Pleas). — Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.01 (current as of Jan 1, 2026) ↗
- How to serve the notice. Written 3-day notice served by certified mail (return receipt requested), by handing a copy to the tenant in person, or by leaving it at the tenant's usual place of abode or at the premises. — Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04(A) (current as of Jan 1, 2026) ↗
- No self-help. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.15 — landlord may not terminate utilities/services, exclude tenant from premises, or threaten unlawful acts to force tenant out — Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.15(A) (current as of Jan 1, 2026) ↗
Each point links to the Ohio source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Ohio notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- 3 days
- Lease violation (cure)
- 30 days
- End month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04; § 5321.11; § 5321.17 · 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.
Ohio notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Ohio law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Ohio 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 Ohio demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in Ohio small claims court, where the limit is $6,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Ohio?
In Ohio, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 3 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04; § 5321.11; § 5321.17. 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 Ohio?
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 Ohio’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 Ohio.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Ohio?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Municipal Court or County Court (also Court of Common Pleas). Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.01 (current as of Jan 1, 2026).
How must an eviction notice be served in Ohio?
Written 3-day notice served by certified mail (return receipt requested), by handing a copy to the tenant in person, or by leaving it at the tenant's usual place of abode or at the premises. Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04(A) (current as of Jan 1, 2026).
How does Ohio 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 Ohio compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04; § 5321.11; § 5321.17 ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Notice to pay rent or quit: 3 days — below the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 15 other states.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Indiana (10 days), Kentucky (7 days), Michigan (7 days), Pennsylvania (10 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule). Ohio's 3 days is the shortest among its neighbors.
- 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 — Indiana (no statutory rule), Kentucky (14 days), Michigan (30 days), Pennsylvania (no statutory rule), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- 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 — Indiana (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Michigan (30 days), Pennsylvania (15 days), West Virginia (30 days).
The rest of what Ohio requires
The figures below are Ohio'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 Ohio page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- No statutory limit Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Ohio Rev. Code §5321.16 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $6,000 O.R.C. ch. 1925 (limit: § 1925.02) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Division of Municipal or County Court · filing fee Varies by court (set locally under each court's cost schedule), typically about $25–$75 plus service costs; e.g. Franklin County Municipal Court (Columbus) raised small claims filing costs by $6 effective Aug 1, 2026. Indigent filers may submit a poverty affidavit. O.R.C. ch. 1925 (limit: § 1925.02) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Ohio Revised Code ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Ohio BMV / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Ohio Rev. Code §1337.25 (form §1337.60) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Ohio Rev. Code § 1706.01(R) (definition); § 1706.08 (effect) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder · no witnesses Ohio Rev. Code § 5301.01 ↗
Eviction notice in other states
More Ohio legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →