Quick Answer

A free printable eviction notice letter only works if it matches your reason for evicting and your state’s notice rules. Download RentRedi’s fillable pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, and notice-to-vacate templates in one PDF below, then set the deadline your state requires. Unpaid-rent notice periods run from 3 days in California, Ohio, and Texas to 10 days in Indiana, so check the state table before you serve anything.

Most landlords who search for an eviction notice letter find a blank page that says “vacate by [date]” and nothing about which deadline that date should be. That gap is where notices fail. A letter that gives a tenant three days in a state that requires ten, or leaves out wording the statute requires, can be rejected by the court, and the clock starts over.

This page gives you three fillable notices, a plain-language guide to choosing between them, and the unpaid-rent rules for ten states, checked against statute text in October 2026. If you need the full process from first notice to move-out, start with RentRedi’s guide on how to write an eviction notice.

Download the Free Printable Eviction Notice Letters (PDF)

RentRedi’s free printable eviction notice letter set includes three fillable notices and a proof-of-service page. Type directly into the PDF, or print it and fill it in by hand.

Download the fillable PDF

Inside the set:

Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice to Cure or Quit
Notice to Vacate (no cure period)
Proof of Service

Each notice has a field for the number of days and a field for wording your state requires, because those two items change from state to state.

Which Eviction Notice Do You Need?

The right notice depends on why you are ending the tenancy, not on which template looks the most official.

Notice to Pay Rent or Quit

Use this when rent is past due. It states the amount owed, gives the tenant a set number of days to pay in full, and says the tenancy ends if they do not. It is also the notice where states differ most, as the table below shows. Before you send one, it can be worth talking with the tenant first. If they can pay over time, agree a repayment plan in writing instead of starting an eviction.

Notice to Cure or Quit

Use this for a lease violation the tenant can fix, such as an unapproved pet or an unauthorized occupant. It names the violation, says what fixing it looks like, and sets a deadline. Florida, for example, gives 7 days to cure, and California gives 3 days, excluding weekends and judicial holidays.

Notice to Vacate (No Cure Period)

Use this when the tenant has no right to fix the problem, such as repeated violations or serious damage, or when you are ending a tenancy. It tells the tenant to leave by a set date and does not offer a way to stay. RentRedi’s notice to vacate guide covers the wording in more detail. A tenant who can still fix the problem may be entitled to a cure notice first, so check your state’s rules before you choose this one.

What an Eviction Notice Letter Needs to Include

Whatever the type, a notice that holds up has the same core details:

Tenant names and the full rental address, including the unit number
The date you issue the notice
The specific reason and, for unpaid rent, the exact amount owed and the period it covers
The deadline, calculated the way your state counts days
How to fix the problem, such as where and how to pay
What happens if the tenant does not comply
Your name and signature, plus any wording your state requires

Specifics beat summaries. A notice that names the amount and the month is easier to defend than one that says the tenant is “late on rent.”

Example of a Free Printable Eviction Notice Letter

These two samples are starting points. Replace every blank with your facts, then add the wording your state requires from the table that follows.

Notice to Vacate Example (No Cure Period)

This is the same letter RentRedi’s readers have used for years, with the blanks labeled more clearly.

DATE
TENANT NAME
RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS

Dear {TENANT NAME},

You are hereby notified to vacate the premises at {RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS} by {DATE} and {TIME}.

The reason for this eviction notice letter is: {STATE THE REASON}, which is in direct violation of your rental agreement, as noted below: {QUOTE THE LEASE CLAUSE}.

As stated in the lease, violating this agreement is grounds for eviction. You are hereby notified to vacate {RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS} by {DATE and TIME}. Failure to do so will result in legal recourse and formal eviction proceedings in accordance with state law.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

YOUR NAME
SIGNATURE
DATE

Pay Rent or Quit Example (Unpaid Rent)

DATE
TENANT NAME(S)
RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS

Dear {TENANT NAME},

Rent is past due for {RENT PERIOD}. The amount owed is ${AMOUNT}. You must pay this amount in full by {DEADLINE DATE}, or vacate {RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS} by that date.

Payment can be made to {PAYEE NAME} at {PAYEE ADDRESS OR ONLINE PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS}, by {ACCEPTED PAYMENT METHODS}.

If the full amount is not paid by the deadline, the landlord may begin formal eviction proceedings in accordance with state law.

{ANY WORDING YOUR STATE REQUIRES}

YOUR NAME
SIGNATURE
DATE

Eviction Notice Requirements by State: 10 Common Notice Periods

RentRedi checked the following unpaid-rent rules against statute text or official court forms in October 2026. Laws change and cities add their own rules, so confirm the current text before you serve a notice.

State	Unpaid rent	Other common notices	Watch for
California	3 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays (CCP 1161)	3-day cure-or-quit for curable violations; 3-day quit with no cure for nuisance, waste, unlawful use, or subletting	The notice must state the amount due and where, how, and when to pay. Landlords cannot charge a fee for serving it.
Texas	At least 3 days’ written notice to vacate, unless the lease sets a different period (Property Code 24.005)	The same 3-day default applies to lease violations and holdovers	SB 38 changed eviction procedure on January 1, 2026, including how notices can be delivered. Read the current text of 24.005 first.
Florida	3 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and court-observed legal holidays (Fla. Stat. 83.56)	7 days to cure other violations; 7 days with no cure for a repeat violation within 12 months	The statute sets the wording for the 3-day notice. The 7-day periods run from delivery.
Ohio	At least 3 days before filing (ORC 1923.04)	The same notice to leave covers other grounds	The notice must carry the statute’s warning language in a conspicuous place, and some courts count the 3 days as business days.
Michigan	7 days to pay or move out (MCL 600.5714(1)(a), court form DC 100a)	24 hours for drug activity with a lease clause; 7 days for a serious health hazard or major damage; 30 days to end a month-to-month tenancy	Bills to lengthen the 7 days to 14 are pending and are not law.
Illinois	At least 5 days after service (735 ILCS 5/9-209)	10 days for lease violations other than rent; 30 days to end a month-to-month tenancy	To keep partial payments from invalidating the notice, it must prominently say that only full payment waives the landlord’s right to end the lease.
Indiana	Not less than 10 days; paying in full before it ends stops the termination (IC 32-31-1-6)	One month’s written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy	The statute offers a short form: “You are notified to vacate the following property not more than ten (10) days after you receive this notice unless you pay the rent due.”
Georgia	3 business days to pay or vacate before filing, for leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024 (O.C.G.A. 44-7-50)	Other grounds start with a demand for possession and have no fixed waiting period	The nonpayment notice can include rent, late fees, utilities, and other lease charges. Older leases follow the earlier rule.
Missouri	No fixed pay-or-quit period; rent must be demanded before filing (RSMo 535.020)	One month’s written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (RSMo 441.060)	Your lease may add its own notice period. Many landlords still send a written demand with a deadline so there is a record.
Alabama	7 business days after the tenant receives the notice (Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b))	Material lease violations: 7 business days; some noncurable breaches: 7 days	The notice must state the rent and late fees owed and the termination date. Older guides still say 7 days.

Cities and counties can add their own rules, such as local just-cause eviction ordinances in parts of California. For more on notice rules in two of these states, see RentRedi’s guides to Michigan landlord tenant law and Illinois landlord tenant laws. Other states are in RentRedi’s landlord-tenant law guides.

How to Serve the Notice and Keep Proof

Follow these steps in order:

Pick the notice that matches your reason and fill in the exact facts.
Count the deadline the way your state does: calendar days, business days, or days that skip weekends and court holidays. In most places the day you serve the notice is not day one.
Deliver it the way the statute allows. Ohio, for example, allows certified mail with a return receipt, handing the notice to the tenant, or leaving it at the tenant’s usual home or at the rental. California allows personal delivery, leaving a copy with another adult and mailing one, or posting plus mailing when no one can be found.
Keep a copy and fill in the proof-of-service page with the date, time, method, and who served it.
Save everything with the tenant’s record. In RentRedi, you can upload the notice and proof of service to the tenant’s Documents tab so they sit with the lease. If you are heading to court over unpaid rent, you can block partial or full rent payments from the tenant’s card in the dashboard. Ask your attorney before blocking or accepting payments, because taking rent after a notice can affect your case in some states.

A Real-World Example

Consider a landlord like Dana, who owns a duplex in Indiana. This is an illustrative scenario, not a specific customer. Her tenant is two weeks behind on rent, so she downloads a free eviction notice letter and gives 3 days to pay, the number she remembers from a friend in California. Indiana requires not less than 10 days for unpaid rent, so her notice is too short and her case risks being dismissed. She serves a corrected 10-day notice and loses more than a week.

The fix is a one-minute check. Find the state in the table, copy the period into the template, and write the deadline date on the notice.

Common Mistakes When Using an Eviction Notice Template

Using a Template’s Deadline Instead of Your State’s

Templates leave the number of days blank for a reason. Indiana requires at least 10 days, Illinois 5, Michigan 7, and California 3 days that skip weekends and court holidays. A deadline copied from the wrong state is the fastest way to lose a week.

Counting the Days the Wrong Way

Georgia counts business days. California and Florida skip weekends and court holidays. Ohio’s statute says three or more days, and some Ohio courts count business days, so ask your local court clerk. One Ohio court’s guidance warns that filing before the notice period fully ends can get the case dismissed.

Putting the Wrong Amount in the Notice

States differ on what you can demand. Michigan’s statute excludes accelerated rent. Georgia’s notice can include past-due rent, late fees, utilities, and other lease charges. Alabama’s covers rent and any late fees. Late fee limits vary too, so check late fees by state before you add one. Then check what your state lets you demand and state an exact figure.

Leaving Out Wording the Statute Requires

Ohio requires a conspicuous warning that begins “You are being asked to leave the premises.” Illinois requires the full-payment sentence to protect the notice from partial payments. Florida’s statute sets the form of the 3-day notice. A notice that skips required wording can be thrown out even if the deadline is right.

Accepting Rent or Skipping the Paper Trail After Serving

Taking a partial payment after you serve a notice can change your options, which is why Illinois requires specific wording. Decide how you will handle payments before you serve, and record the date and method of service while it is fresh.

Recap: Picking and Serving the Right Notice

Choose the notice by your reason, then set the deadline by state. Fill in the exact amount or violation, add any wording your state requires, and serve it the way the statute allows. Keep proof of service with the tenant’s record. The questions below cover what landlords ask most when they are ready to send a notice.

FAQ

Can I write my own eviction notice?

Yes. In most states you can write the notice yourself as long as it names the tenant and address, states the reason, gives the deadline your state requires, and includes any wording the statute sets. A template helps you cover the basics, but take the deadline and required statements from your state’s rules, not from the template.

Can you hand-write an eviction notice?

Usually yes. A handwritten notice is generally valid if it is legible, dated, signed, and meets your state’s content and delivery rules. A typed notice is easier to read and easier to defend in court, so use the fillable PDF if you can, and keep a copy of whatever you serve.

How many days’ notice do I have to give for unpaid rent?

It depends on your state. Among the ten states above, California, Texas, and Ohio start at 3 days, Georgia requires 3 business days, Illinois 5 days, Michigan 7 days, Alabama 7 business days, and Indiana at least 10 days. Florida gives 3 days excluding weekends and court holidays, and Missouri has no fixed period. Check the table for details.

How do I serve an eviction notice?

Follow your state’s statute. Depending on the state, you can hand the notice to the tenant, leave it with another adult at the home, mail it, or post it, sometimes with a mailed copy. Ohio allows certified mail with a return receipt, and California allows posting plus mailing when no one can be found. Always keep proof of service.

Is a free eviction notice template valid in every state?

No. A template is a starting point, not a legal guarantee. The number of days, the counting method, the required wording, and the delivery rules change by state and sometimes by city, and courts can reject a notice that misses them. Use the table above, confirm the current statute, and have an attorney review the notice if the situation is contested.

Can the tenant stop the eviction by paying after getting the notice?

For unpaid rent, often yes if they pay in full before the deadline. Indiana’s statute stops the termination if rent is paid in full before the 10 days end, and Michigan’s demand gives 7 days to pay or move out. Illinois requires the notice to say that only full payment waives the right to end the lease. Ask an attorney before accepting money after a notice.

Conclusion

The best free printable eviction notice letter matches your reason and your state. Pick the notice type, copy the deadline from your state’s rules, and serve it the way the statute allows. A defective notice usually means starting over, so getting those three things right the first time protects your timeline.

When you are ready for the next stage, RentRedi’s guide to the eviction process walks through filing, court, and move-out, and a look at what an eviction can cost shows why a clean first notice matters.

Next Steps

Find your state in the table and write the notice period and counting rule on the template.
Fill in the exact amount or violation, add any wording your state requires, then sign and date the notice.
Serve it the way your statute allows and save the notice and proof of service in the tenant’s record.

Note: This content is not intended to substitute, replace, or be construed as professional legal advice. It is for reference purposes only. Please consult your legal counsel to ensure your lease complies with state and federal regulations.

RentRedi keeps rent collection, late rent reminders, and tenant documents in one place, which makes notices easier to document. See RentRedi pricing

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Free Printable Eviction Notice Letter: PDF Templates