District of Columbia Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In District of Columbia, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords need a legal reason to end most tenancies. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 10 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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District of Columbia notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days D.C. Code § 42-3202(b)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy	A landlord needs a legal reason (just cause); there is no no-reason notice for most tenancies D.C. Code § 42-3505.01
Longer tenancies and special cases	There is no no-cause termination. Statutory grounds carry their own notice periods: owner personal use 90 days, sale to a buyer who will occupy 90 days, alterations or renovation 120 days, demolition or discontinuing housing use 180 days, lease violation 30 days to cure (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01).
Notice for unpaid rent	10 days D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)
End of a fixed-term lease	Expiration of a fixed-term lease is not a ground for eviction in D.C.; the tenancy continues month-to-month unless the landlord has a statutory cause.
How notice can be delivered	Nonpayment notice: BOTH certified mail (or a tracked delivery service, return receipt requested) AND hand delivery to the unit or posting on its front door (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)). Other notices to vacate must also be filed with the Rent Administrator; if posted, the landlord must keep time-stamped photos for court.

D.C. bars eviction for any reason not listed in the statute, even after the lease expires, as long as the tenant keeps paying rent (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)).

Residential tenants can end a periodic tenancy with 30 days' written notice that expires on the first day of a month (D.C. Code § 42-3202(b)); landlords cannot use that section. The nonpayment notice is due at least 10 days before filing, must itemize the amount with a ledger, and cannot be issued when less than $600 is owed. Notices go in the tenant's primary language when it is not English or Spanish.

What a District of Columbia notice to vacate should include

The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
Your name, signature and contact details
A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

District of Columbia notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in District of Columbia?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (D.C. Code § 42-3202(b)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia does not let landlords end most tenancies without a legal reason. D.C. bars eviction for any reason not listed in the statute, even after the lease expires, as long as the tenant keeps paying rent (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in District of Columbia?

The tenant gets 10 days to pay or move out (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in District of Columbia?

Nonpayment notice: BOTH certified mail (or a tracked delivery service, return receipt requested) AND hand delivery to the unit or posting on its front door (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)). Other notices to vacate must also be filed with the Rent Administrator; if posted, the landlord must keep time-stamped photos for court.

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in District of Columbia?

Expiration of a fixed-term lease is not a ground for eviction in D.C.; the tenancy continues month-to-month unless the landlord has a statutory cause.

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.