District of Columbia eviction notice (pay or quit)

District of Columbia requires 30 days for a nonpayment notice — D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1). 30-day notice to pay or vacate before filing; landlord generally may not file a nonpayment eviction unless at least $600 is owed. Generate it correctly below.

District of Columbia nonpayment notice rules

Notice period30 days
StatuteD.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)
Special rules30-day notice to pay or vacate before filing; landlord generally may not file a nonpayment eviction unless at least $600 is owed

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Every District of Columbia rule we encode, with its citation

30 days puts District of Columbia at the longest notice period in the country (the national range runs 3–30 days). 0 jurisdictions require more notice and 46 require less.

DocumentRequirementStatute
Eviction (nonpayment)30 daysD.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1)
Rent increase60 daysD.C. Code § 42-3509.04(b)
Month-to-month terminationno fixed statutory period (see note)D.C. Code § 42-3505.01
Power of attorneyNotary requiredD.C. Code § 21-2601.05; form § 21-2603.01
Will2 witnessesD.C. Code § 18-103

Each value is compiled from the cited statute and printed on the document you generate, so you or your attorney can verify it against the source.

Related forms and nearby states

Other District of Columbia documents

Bordering states

Rules change at the state line — if you own property in more than one, check each.

Frequently asked questions

How many days notice for nonpayment in District of Columbia?

30 days, per D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a-1). 30-day notice to pay or vacate before filing; landlord generally may not file a nonpayment eviction unless at least $600 is owed.

What happens after the notice period expires?

If the tenant hasn't paid or vacated, you may file the eviction case in court. Keep the served notice and proof of service — the court will require them.

Can the tenant stop the eviction by paying?

Payment in full within the notice period cures a pay-or-quit notice in nearly every state; accepting partial payment after the period may reset the process in some states.