📊 State Landlord-Tenant Law Statistics

Notice periods are the legally required timeframes landlords must give tenants before taking action such as eviction for non-payment, lease termination, or rent increases. These periods vary dramatically across states—from as short as 3 days in some states to 90 days in tenant-friendly jurisdictions. Understanding these requirements is critical for both landlords and tenants to ensure legal compliance.

📋 Non-Payment Notice by State (Complete Data)

Security deposit laws vary significantly across the United States. While 22 states have no statutory limit on security deposit amounts, others strictly cap deposits at 1-3 months’ rent. Additionally, return timelines range from 14 to 60 days, and some states require landlords to pay interest on deposits held.

⏱️ Security Deposit Return Deadlines

Eviction timelines vary dramatically across states, ranging from as fast as 2-3 weeks in landlord-friendly states to 6+ months in states with strong tenant protections or overburdened court systems. These timelines include the notice period, court filing, hearing, judgment, and execution of the writ of possession.

🏃 Fastest Eviction States

🐢 Slowest Eviction States

Rent control limits how much landlords can increase rent, typically to a percentage tied to inflation or a fixed cap. As of 2025, only a handful of states allow rent control, with most implementing “just cause” eviction protections alongside rent limits. Many states have preemption laws explicitly prohibiting local rent control ordinances.

🗺️ Rent Control Map

States vary significantly in how their laws balance landlord and tenant rights. Tenant-friendly states typically have longer notice periods, rent control, just-cause eviction requirements, and stricter security deposit limits. Landlord-friendly states generally offer faster evictions, fewer restrictions on rent increases, and more flexibility in tenant selection.

📊 Key Differences Comparison

All states require certain disclosures before or at the time of lease signing. The federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure is required nationwide for pre-1978 housing. Beyond this, state requirements vary from minimal (a few states) to extensive (California requires 20+ disclosures).

📝 State-by-State Disclosure Count

📄 Common Required Disclosures

A grace period is the time after rent is due before a landlord can charge a late fee or begin eviction proceedings. While many states don’t mandate grace periods (leaving it to the lease), some states require specific grace periods by law.

Access our comprehensive library of free, state-specific landlord forms including lease agreements, eviction notices, disclosures, and more. All forms are updated for 2025 compliance.

📚 Related Resources

The statistics and data presented on this page are compiled from primary legal sources including state statutes, administrative codes, and official government publications. Our research team regularly reviews and updates this data to ensure accuracy.

📚 Primary Sources

• State Statutes: Official state codes for landlord-tenant law (e.g., California Civil Code, New York Real Property Law, Texas Property Code)
• Court Rules: State court procedural rules for eviction (summary process, unlawful detainer, forcible entry and detainer)
• Administrative Agencies: HUD, state housing authorities, rent stabilization boards
• Legal Databases: Westlaw, LexisNexis, state legislature websites

⚠️ Important Notes

• Local Variations: Many cities and counties have additional requirements beyond state law (e.g., Chicago RLTO, NYC rent stabilization, San Francisco rent control)
• Changing Laws: Landlord-tenant law changes frequently. Always verify current requirements with official sources before taking legal action
• Timeline Estimates: Eviction timeline estimates are averages for uncontested cases. Actual timelines vary based on court backlogs, tenant defenses, and local factors