Eviction Notice + Cure Period by State (Section 8 + Pay or Quit)
Get the eviction notice period and cure period for your state. Pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, and unconditional-quit timelines plus Section 8 HUD requirement for 14-day pay-or-quit notice on subsidized housing. Free landlord-tenant timing tool.
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How eviction notices and cure periods work
Before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit, state law requires service of a written notice giving the tenant a chance to cure (fix) the problem or vacate the property. The three primary notice types: pay-or-quit (for unpaid rent — tenant can stop eviction by paying within the cure period), cure-or-quit (for lease violations — tenant can fix the violation), and unconditional quit (for serious breaches like illegal activity or repeated late payments — no cure option, tenant must vacate).
Notice periods vary dramatically by state. Texas requires only 3 days pay-or-quit notice. California requires 3 business days (Code of Civil Procedure 1161). New York requires 14 days pay-or-quit and 10 days cure. Ohio uses a 3-day pay-or-quit but 30-day cure for lease violations. Georgia has no statutory pay-or-quit period — landlords can demand rent immediately, then file a dispossessory affidavit after demand is refused. Always verify the current state statute as legislatures frequently update notice periods.
Section 8 federal pay-or-quit rule
Section 8 voucher holders and public housing tenants have federal protections that override most state laws. Under 24 CFR 247.4 (project-based Section 8) and 24 CFR 982.310 (Housing Choice Voucher), landlords must give at least 14 days written notice for non-payment of rent and 30 days for other lease violations. The notice must state specific grounds, advise the tenant of the right to defend, and (for project-based Section 8) be served at least 30 days before any court action.
HUD also requires "good cause" for terminating a Section 8 tenancy — landlords cannot evict without a stated lease violation. For lease expiration or end of term, landlords must give 60-90 days notice in most cases. Local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) often require landlords to notify them before filing eviction, and PHA grievance procedures may give tenants additional appeal rights before eviction can proceed. Failing to comply with these federal rules is an absolute defense to the eviction.
Just Cause cities and additional protections
Several cities and states have enacted Just Cause eviction laws requiring landlords to state a statutory reason for any eviction (not just at lease end). These include California (entire state, AB 1482), Oregon (entire state, SB 608), Washington State, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, New Jersey (entire state), and Washington DC. Just Cause statutes typically require a longer cure period for fixable violations and limit no-cause evictions to specific circumstances (owner move-in, removal from rental market, substantial renovation).
Some jurisdictions also require relocation assistance for no-cause evictions. San Francisco requires $7,000+ per tenant for owner move-in evictions. Seattle requires three months of relocation assistance for some no-cause evictions. The American Bar Association Section of Real Property Trust and Estate Law and Nolo's landlord-tenant resources publish state-by-state and city-by-city charts. Legal aid organizations (LSC-funded) provide free representation for low-income tenants and can defend Section 8 evictions effectively.
Sources: 24 CFR 247.4 (Section 8 project-based), 24 CFR 982.310 (HCV), state landlord-tenant statutes, hud.gov, nolo.com state eviction guides, americanbar.org Section of Real Property Trust and Estate Law. Last updated: May 2026.