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Eviction Notice Requirements in the District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia a landlord must give written pre-filing notice before suing for nonpayment (only when $600 or more is owed), 30 days to correct other lease violations, and tenancies cannot be ended without a cause allowed by law.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

District of Columbia at a glance

Notice for unpaid rent
No fixed period
Pre-filing notice of intent to file for nonpayment (only if at least $600 is owed); statute says at least 10 days before filing, but the required notice wording tells the tenant 30 days to pay
Notice for a lease violation
30 days
30-day notice to correct the violation or vacate
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
No fixed period
No landlord termination without a statutory cause (just-cause eviction law)

Sources

Last checked

The rules in District of Columbia

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in the District of Columbia?

District of Columbia rule: Pre-filing notice of intent to file for nonpayment (only if at least $600 is owed); statute says at least 10 days before filing, but the required notice wording tells the tenant 30 days to pay.

How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in the District of Columbia?

District of Columbia rule: 30-day notice to correct the violation or vacate.

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in the District of Columbia?

District of Columbia rule: No landlord termination without a statutory cause (just-cause eviction law).

Where do the District of Columbia rules for eviction notices come from?

They come from D.C. Code 42-3505.01. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

What this means in practice

A notice is usually the first step, not the eviction itself. A landlord generally needs a court order before a tenant can be removed, and changing the locks or cutting utilities to force a tenant out is not allowed in most states.

Serve the notice the way state law requires, keep a copy and proof of delivery, and count the days carefully: some states skip weekends and holidays.

Tenants who receive a notice can often stop the process by paying or fixing the problem within the notice period. Local legal aid offices can explain the options.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.