Minnesota Eviction Notice Law
Minnesota's notice period for unpaid rent is 14 days (14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a)). No Minnesota statute sets a notice period for lease violations.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Not legal advice. A defective notice can restart an eviction case; ask a Minnesota attorney or court self-help center before serving one. See our disclaimer.
Minnesota eviction notice rules at a glance
| Notice for unpaid rent | 14 days (14-day pre-eviction notice for nonpayment (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a))Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subds. 1(d), 1a |
|---|---|
| Notice for a lease violation | No state ruleMinn. Stat. § 504B.285, subd. 1, Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 3 |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault) | 30 days (either side)Minn. Stat. § 504B.135, Minn. Stat. § 504B.147 |
Notice for unpaid rent
- In effect since .
- Before : No statewide pre-filing notice: a landlord could file an eviction as soon as rent was late (and could end a tenancy at will on 14 days' notice to quit for nonpayment under former § 504B.135(b)).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault)
- In effect since .
- Before : Same notice rule, but § 504B.135(b) also let a landlord end a tenancy at will on 14 days' written notice to quit for nonpayment of rent (repealed by 2023 Minn. Laws ch. 52, art. 19, sec. 97).
What Minnesota law says
What notice must a Minnesota landlord give before filing an eviction for unpaid rent?
Before filing an eviction for unpaid rent, deliver personally or by first-class mail a written notice with the itemized amount due and the statutory legal-help and financial-help statements, then wait 14 days (or longer if a local ordinance requires) (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a) (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subds. 1(d), 1a).
How much notice is required for a lease violation in Minnesota?
Minnesota requires no statutory notice or cure period before filing an eviction for a lease breach, but the lease must give the right to evict for that breach and the complaint must identify the lease clause and conduct (Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.285, subd. 1; 504B.321, subd. 3) (Minn. Stat. § 504B.285, subd. 1).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Minnesota?
Either party may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice received at least one full rental period before it ends — e.g., by May 31 to end June 30 (Minn. Stat. § 504B.135).
How Minnesota compares
37 of 49 verified jurisdictions use a shorter unpaid-rent notice.
None of Minnesota's 4 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Unpaid rent · lease violation | States |
|---|---|
| 14 days · no statewide rule | Minnesota |
| 3 days · 7 days, with cure | Iowa |
| 3 days · 3 days | North Dakota |
| No statewide rule · no statewide rule | South Dakota |
| 5 days · 5 days, with cure | Wisconsin |
Local rules in Minnesota
St. Paul has voter-approved rent stabilization (3% annual cap, adopted by ballot in 2021 and amended by the City Council since, including exemptions for newer buildings). Minneapolis limits the amount of security deposits (Mpls. Code § 244.2040, per the AG handbook) and has other renter-protection ordinances. Local governments may require a pre-eviction nonpayment notice longer than the state 14 days (Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a(c)).
Recent changes in Minnesota
- No minors as eviction defendants (effective ): A landlord may not name a tenant's minor child as a defendant in an eviction complaint (unless the minor is the only renter), with actual damages or $300, whichever is greater, for violations; expedited eviction hearings are now also available when a tenant assaults the landlord or its employees or contractors, and the penalty for an unjustified expedited request rises to $750 (Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.2136, 504B.321, subd. 2). Laws 2026, ch. 81 (SF 4171), secs. 3, 5, Minn. Stat. § 504B.321
- Eviction hearing notice by text or email (effective ): The eviction summons and complaint must be served at least seven days before the hearing, and a landlord who regularly communicates with the tenant electronically must also make a good-faith, time-stamped electronic message at least seven days before the hearing giving its date, time and place (Minn. Stat. § 504B.332). Minn. Stat. § 504B.332, Laws 2024, ch. 118 (SF 3492), secs. 27, 31
Other Minnesota rules
| Security deposit limit | No state capMinn. Stat. § 504B.178 (no amount limit) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 21 days after the lease endsMinn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3(a) |
| Late-fee cap | Up to 8% of the overdue rent payment; only if agreed in writing and the agreement states when the fee is imposed. For tenancies under a housing assistance payments contract, calculated only on the tenant's share of rent. Conflicting federal subsidy rules may override.Minn. Stat. § 504B.177 |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' noticeMinn. Stat. § 504B.211, subds. 2-6 |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleMinn. Stat. § 504B.147, subd. 3 |