North Carolina Landlord Entry Notice Law
North Carolina has no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry, so follow the lease's entry clause and give reasonable advance notice (24 hours is common practice) except in emergencies to avoid breaching the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment (N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 42, Art. 5).
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
North Carolina landlord entry notice rules at a glance
| Notice before entry | No state ruleN.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 42, Art. 5 (silent on landlord entry), N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 42 (silent on landlord entry) |
|---|
What North Carolina law says
How much notice must a North Carolina landlord give before entering a rental?
North Carolina has no statute setting a notice period for landlord entry, so follow the lease's entry clause and give reasonable advance notice (24 hours is common practice) except in emergencies to avoid breaching the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment (N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 42, Art. 5) (N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 42, Art. 5 (silent on landlord entry)).
How North Carolina compares
28 of 51 verified jurisdictions set a fixed number of hours.
Georgia follows the same rule as North Carolina; 3 of its 4 neighbors differ.
| Notice before entry | States |
|---|---|
| No statewide rule | North Carolina, Georgia |
| 24 hours | South Carolina |
| No fixed number of hours | Tennessee |
| 72 hours | Virginia |
Local rules in North Carolina
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 bars cities and counties from regulating private-market rent; local rent limits are allowed only for publicly owned, subsidized or CDBG-assisted property, or for owners receiving local funding or incentives.
Other North Carolina rules
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rent (with exceptions)N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51(b), N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-53 |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after move-outN.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 |
| Late-fee cap | Monthly rent: greater of $15 or 5% of the monthly rent. Weekly rent: greater of $4 or 5% of the weekly rent. One late fee per late payment. If rent is subsidized (HUD, USDA, State agency, public housing authority or local government), the fee is calculated on the tenant's share of the rent only. No late fee for unpaid water/sewer charges.N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a)-(b) |
| Rent-increase notice | No state ruleN.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 42 (no rent-increase provision), N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14 |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 10 days (10-day demand for past-due rent)N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-3, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-26(a) |
| Month-to-month termination | 7 days (either side)N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14 |
Read the North Carolina law
Put the entry-notice terms in writing
Related
- Free notice of entry form
- North Carolina lease agreement
- North Carolina landlord-tenant law
- Landlord entry notice in every state
- North Carolina notice to vacate
- North Carolina late rent notice
- North Carolina rent increase notice
- North Carolina security deposit return letter
- North Carolina lease termination letter
- North Carolina pet addendum