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    District of Columbia Notice to Vacate

    A D.C. tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' written notice that expires on the first of a month, but a housing provider can end one only for a cause listed in the Rental Housing Act, such as 90 days' notice for an owner move-in (D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.54(a), 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01). The notice to vacate below is preset for District of Columbia: fill in your details, then print it or save it as a PDF.

    State rules last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

    District of Columbia rules for a notice to vacate

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
    Landlord 90 days, tenant 30 days D.C. Code § 42-3505.54(a), D.C. Code § 42-3202(b), D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)-(k)
    Deadline to return the security deposit
    45 days after the lease ends 14 DCMR §§ 309.1, 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) (45-day notice of unpaid amounts, added by D.C. Law 26-156)
    Itemized list of deductions
    Required 14 DCMR § 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(2)

    Notice to Vacate generator

    Notice type

    Who is giving the notice?

    Parties

    Everyone named on the lease. Separate names with commas.

    Dates

    Notice period

    Use the longer of what your lease and your state or city require.

    For month-to-month tenancies with rent due on the 1st: moves the date to the last day of the month in which the notice period ends.

    Leave empty to use the calculated date. You can choose a later date.

    Details

    Only include a reason if your lease or local law requires one.

    Blank PDF

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    Notice to Vacate

    Landlord's notice ending the tenancy

    Date of notice:November 1, 2026
    Rental property:123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield
    To:Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera
    From:Jordan Lee

    To Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera and all other occupants:

    This is written notice that the landlord is ending your month-to-month tenancy at 123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield. Your tenancy will end on January 31, 2027. Please move out, remove all of your belongings and return possession of the premises on or before that date.

    How the move-out date was counted

    This notice is given on November 1, 2026. Ninety (90) calendar days after that date is January 30, 2027. The rental period in which that day falls ends on January 31, 2027. The tenancy therefore ends on January 31, 2027.

    Move-out

    • Return all keys, fobs, garage openers and access cards to Jordan Lee on or before the move-out date.
    • The landlord would like to schedule a move-out inspection. Please contact Jordan Lee at (555) 010-2030 to arrange a time.
    • Please give the landlord your forwarding address in writing so your security deposit and any itemized statement of deductions can be sent to you.

    Questions about this notice can be sent to Jordan Lee at 500 Oak Avenue, Springfield or (555) 010-2030.

    Landlord or agent signature (Jordan Lee)
    Date

    Delivery record

    This notice was delivered on __________ by (check one):

    • [ ] Hand delivery to the person named above
    • [ ] Certified mail, return receipt requested (tracking no. ____________________)
    • [ ] First-class mail
    • [ ] Other method allowed by the lease: ____________________
    Person delivering signature
    Date

    Made free at make.lease/forms/notice-to-vacate

    What District of Columbia requires

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

    A D.C. tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' written notice that expires on the first of a month, but a housing provider can end one only for a cause listed in the Rental Housing Act, such as 90 days' notice for an owner move-in (D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.54(a), 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01).

    Just cause required: a D.C. housing provider cannot end a residential tenancy by notice alone, even after the lease expires, while the tenant pays rent. Notice depends on the ground: 30 days to cure a lease violation; 30 days after a court finds an illegal act (10 days for certain violent crimes in cases filed after Dec. 31, 2025); 90 days for owner move-in or sale to a buyer who will live there; 120 days for substantial rehabilitation and similar; 180 days for demolition or discontinuing housing use. Notices other than for nonpayment must also be filed with the Rent Administrator. Tenant: 30 days' written notice, expiring on the first day of the first month at least 30 days after the notice.

    D.C. Code § 42-3505.54(a), D.C. Code § 42-3202(b), D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)-(k) · checked October 27, 2026

    Deadline to return the security deposit

    Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or notify the tenant in writing of an intent to withhold, then refund any balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after that notice (14 DCMR §§ 309.1-309.2).

    14 DCMR §§ 309.1, 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) (45-day notice of unpaid amounts, added by D.C. Law 26-156) · checked October 26, 2026

    Itemized list of deductions

    A landlord who withholds any of the deposit must give the tenant an itemized statement of each repair or other use and its cost when refunding the balance (14 DCMR § 309.2).

    14 DCMR § 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e)(2) · checked October 26, 2026

    Counting calendar days, 90 days after a notice given on November 1, 2026 is January 30, 2027. The example above starts with that period. District of Columbia's statute may also say the tenancy ends on a rent day or at the end of a rental period, and it decides how a mailed notice is counted, so read the rule above before you rely on the date, and leave a few days of margin.

    City and county rules can be stricter than state law, and your lease can require more than the statute does. Use whichever rule gives the tenant more time or protection.

    More for District of Columbia landlords