Wisconsin Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules
In Wisconsin, tenants give at least 28 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 28 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 5 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.
Wisconsin notice periods at a glance
| Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy | 28 days Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3) |
|---|---|
| Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy | 28 days Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3) |
| Longer tenancies and special cases | Year-to-year agricultural tenancies need 90 days' notice (§ 704.19(3)); otherwise 28 days applies regardless of how long the tenant has lived there. |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 5 days Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a) (month-to-month), § 704.17(2)(a) (lease of 1 year or less), § 704.17(3)(a) (lease over 1 year: 30 days) |
| End of a fixed-term lease | A fixed-term lease ends on its end date without notice, but an automatic-renewal clause can be enforced against the tenant only if the landlord gives a written reminder 15-30 days before the tenant's notice deadline (Wis. Stat. § 704.15). |
| How notice can be delivered | Landlord: personal delivery or leaving a copy with a family member 14+ at the tenant's home; leaving a copy with a person in charge of the premises plus mailing; posting plus mailing if those fail; registered or certified mail; or service like a summons (Wis. Stat. § 704.21(1)). Tenant: personal delivery to the landlord or agent, delivery at the landlord's place of business, or registered/certified mail (§ 704.21(2)). |
Periodic notices can only end the tenancy at the end of a rental period (§ 704.19(2)(b)). For month-to-month tenants who don't pay, the landlord may give either a 5-day pay-or-vacate notice or a 14-day notice to vacate with no right to cure (§ 704.17(1p)(a)); a repeat default within a year on a lease of one year or less allows a 14-day notice without cure. Day-counting rules: mailed notices count from the 2nd day after mailing within Wisconsin (§ 704.19(7)).
What a Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin notice to vacate FAQ
How much notice does a tenant have to give in Wisconsin?
For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 28 days in writing (Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3)). 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 Wisconsin?
To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 28 days (Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3)). Year-to-year agricultural tenancies need 90 days' notice (§ 704.19(3)); otherwise 28 days applies regardless of how long the tenant has lived there.
What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Wisconsin?
The tenant gets 5 days to pay or move out (Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a) (month-to-month), § 704.17(2)(a) (lease of 1 year or less), § 704.17(3)(a) (lease over 1 year: 30 days)). 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 Wisconsin?
Landlord: personal delivery or leaving a copy with a family member 14+ at the tenant's home; leaving a copy with a person in charge of the premises plus mailing; posting plus mailing if those fail; registered or certified mail; or service like a summons (Wis. Stat. § 704.21(1)). Tenant: personal delivery to the landlord or agent, delivery at the landlord's place of business, or registered/certified mail (§ 704.21(2)).
Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Wisconsin?
A fixed-term lease ends on its end date without notice, but an automatic-renewal clause can be enforced against the tenant only if the landlord gives a written reminder 15-30 days before the tenant's notice deadline (Wis. Stat. § 704.15).
Create your Wisconsin notice
The form fills in the Wisconsin notice period, dates and delivery details and gives you a print-ready PDF. You see the notice before you pay; plans start at $29.
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Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Guides
- 30-Day Notice to Vacate: Sample Letter and Rules
- 30-Day Notice to Landlord: Intent to Vacate Letter
- Lease Termination Letter: End-of-Term and Early Termination
- Notice to Vacate Template and Sample Letter
- Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
- 60-Day Notice to Vacate
- Lease Non-Renewal Letter