The pay-or-quit notice is the most important page in an eviction case. It starts the clock, and if it is wrong, a judge can dismiss the case and send you back to the beginning, which costs you another month of rent. This guide compares the rules in the ten states where we publish county eviction pages. Each section links to the statute so you can read the exact words.
General information only, not legal advice. Statutes change; check the current text and your lease before you serve a notice.
What every good notice includes
Regardless of state, a strong notice to pay or quit:
- Names every adult tenant on the lease and identifies the property address and unit.
- States the exact amount of rent past due, and only charges the statute and lease allow in the notice.
- States the deadline to pay or move out, counted the way your state counts (calendar days or business days).
- Says what happens if the tenant does neither: you will file for possession.
- Is dated and signed by the landlord or authorized agent.
- Is delivered by a method your statute allows, with proof (a photo of the posting, a certified-mail receipt, or a signed delivery log).
Texas: 3 days unless the lease says otherwise
Texas Property Code Chapter 24 requires a written notice to vacate before filing. For cases filed on or after January 1, 2026, SB 38 adds a notice to pay rent or vacate for a tenant's first delinquency. The default period is 3 days unless the lease sets a different one. Delivery options include mail, hand delivery, posting inside the main entry door, and agreed electronic delivery. See Texas and the Property Code.
Florida: 3 business days for rent, 7 days for other violations
Florida Statutes §83.56(3) requires a 3-day notice to pay or deliver possession, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. For other noncompliance, §83.56(2) uses a 7-day notice (curable or not, depending on the violation). The notice must state the rent amount due and the landlord's name and address. See Florida.
Georgia: 3 business days to pay or vacate (leases from July 1, 2024)
Georgia's Safe at Home Act (HB 404) amended O.C.G.A. §44-7-50 to require a written notice to pay or vacate before filing a dispossessory for unpaid rent and other charges. The tenant gets at least 3 business days. The notice must be posted in a sealed envelope on the door and delivered by any additional method the lease specifies. It applies to leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2024. See Georgia.
Ohio: 3 days, with required warning language
Ohio Revised Code §1923.04 requires notice to leave the premises at least 3 days before filing, delivered by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand, or left at the tenant's usual place of abode or the premises. Residential notices must include the statutory warning that the tenant is being asked to leave and may be evicted if they do not. See Ohio.
North Carolina: 10 days after a demand for rent
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. §42-3, a lease is forfeited if the tenant fails to pay within 10 days after the landlord demands all past-due rent. Many leases address this demand directly; read yours. See North Carolina.
Arizona: 5 days for rent, 10 days for material noncompliance
A.R.S. §33-1368(B) lets the landlord terminate if rent is unpaid within 5 days after written notice of nonpayment and of the intent to terminate. For material noncompliance with the lease, §33-1368(A) uses a 10-day notice. Arizona courts move quickly after that: the tenant's court date is 3 to 6 days after the summons. See Arizona.
Tennessee: 14 days in URLTA counties
Tenn. Code §66-28-505 gives tenants 14 days after receiving notice to pay rent or vacate in counties covered by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (coverage depends on county population). Check whether your county is covered and what your lease says. See Tennessee.
Indiana: 10 days
Ind. Code §32-31-1-6 requires at least 10 days' written notice for nonpayment of rent. If the tenant pays the full amount before the notice expires, the termination stops. See Indiana.
Missouri: demand, no waiting period
Missouri's rent-and-possession statute, RSMo §535.020, requires that the rent be due and demanded, and not paid. It does not set a separate pay-or-quit waiting period. Your lease may add one, and other kinds of cases (unlawful detainer under Chapter 534) have their own rules. See Missouri.
Pennsylvania: 10 days for rent, 15 or 30 days otherwise
Under the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. §250.501), the notice to quit is 10 days for nonpayment of rent. For other reasons it is 15 days for leases of one year or less (or of indefinite term) and 30 days for longer leases. Many Pennsylvania leases include a waiver of notice; whether it is enforceable depends on the lease and the court. See Pennsylvania.
Counting days without getting burned
The safest approach is to count conservatively. Do not count the day you deliver the notice. If your state counts business days (Florida, Georgia), skip weekends and legal holidays. If the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, the safer choice is to give an extra day. Write the actual calendar deadline on the notice, not just "3 days."
Partial payments after the notice
Accepting partial rent after serving a notice can waive your right to proceed in some states, or require a new notice. If you want to accept a partial payment and still keep the case alive, check your state's rule and consider a written agreement that says the payment does not waive the notice.
What comes next
If the deadline passes without payment or move-out, you file in the court listed on your state page. Our county pages show the verified filing, service and writ fees and link directly to each court's schedule. For help from a licensed professional, see the landlord services directory, which links to each state's official license lookup and attorney referral service.
Investors who run more than a few doors usually standardize this process: a template notice per state, a delivery checklist, and a calendar reminder for the day the notice expires. It turns an emotional decision into a routine one, and routines are what keep small portfolios profitable.