Eviction Notice Requirements in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin a tenant on a lease of one year or less generally gets a 5-day notice to pay or cure before eviction (a 14-day notice with no option to cure can be used for month-to-month tenants or repeat violations), and a month-to-month tenancy ends with at least 28 days' written notice.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Wisconsin at a glance
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 5 days
- 5-day notice to pay or vacate (lease of one year or less); month-to-month tenants may instead get a 14-day notice to vacate
- Notice for a lease violation
- 5 days
- 5-day notice to cure or vacate (lease of one year or less); 14-day notice with no cure for a repeat breach within 12 months or for month-to-month tenants
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- 28 days
- At least 28 days' written notice before the next rent due date
The rules in Wisconsin
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin rule: 5-day notice to pay or vacate (lease of one year or less); month-to-month tenants may instead get a 14-day notice to vacate.
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin rule: 5-day notice to cure or vacate (lease of one year or less); 14-day notice with no cure for a repeat breach within 12 months or for month-to-month tenants.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin rule: At least 28 days' written notice before the next rent due date.
Where do the Wisconsin rules for eviction notices come from?
They come from Wisconsin DATCP Landlord-Tenant Guide and Wisconsin DATCP Tenants' Rights and Responsibilities. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Wisconsin compares
For unpaid rent, 16 jurisdictions allow a shorter notice than Wisconsin, and 23 jurisdictions require a longer one.
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.