District of Columbia Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause)
Create a free District of Columbia notice to terminate tenancy (no cause). District of Columbia does not set a standard statutory period for this notice — confirm the requirement before serving. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
District of Columbia requirement
District of Columbia does not set a standard statutory period for this notice — confirm the requirement before serving. No-cause termination of a residential tenancy is NOT permitted. DC is a just-cause jurisdiction: a tenant who continues to pay rent and abide by the lease cannot be evicted even after the lease expires (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)). The closest no-fault grounds are owner/relative personal use (90-day notice to vacate) and good-faith sale (90-day notice), demolition (180-day notice), substantial rehabilitation (120-day notice), and discontinuance of housing use (180-day notice), each with statutory conditions. Set to -1 because a plain no-cause 30-day termination does not exist.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ District of Columbia does not set a standard statutory period for this notice — confirm the requirement before serving. No-cause termination of a residential tenancy is NOT permitted. DC is a just-cause jurisdiction: a tenant who continues to pay rent and abide by the lease cannot be evicted even after the lease expires (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)). The closest no-fault grounds are owner/relative personal use (90-day notice to vacate) and good-faith sale (90-day notice), demolition (180-day notice), substantial rehabilitation (120-day notice), and discontinuance of housing use (180-day notice), each with statutory conditions. Set to -1 because a plain no-cause 30-day termination does not exist.
⚠ District of Columbia has a just-cause eviction law: a no-cause termination may be invalid unless you state a qualifying reason. District-wide just-cause eviction protection under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01. Landlords may recover possession only for the enumerated statutory grounds (nonpayment, lease/obligation violation, illegal act, owner/relative personal use, sale, demolition, substantial rehabilitation, discontinuance of housing use, etc.). Lease expiration alone is not a ground.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) (District of Columbia)
NOTICE TO TERMINATE TENANCY (NO CAUSE)
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that your month-to-month tenancy is terminated. You are required to vacate and surrender possession of the property within the time required by law. This notice ends the tenancy; rent remains due through the termination date.
Qualifying reason for termination (required in District of Columbia): [YOU MUST STATE A QUALIFYING JUST-CAUSE REASON — a no-cause termination is generally NOT valid in this state. Confirm whether the unit is exempt or state an allowed at-fault or no-fault ground.]
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 (Evictions); 10-day nonpayment notice per D.C. Law 26-80 (RENTAL Amendment Act of 2025), § 101(b)(1), eff. Dec. 31, 2025, amending § 42-3505.01(a-1)(1).
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
How this notice may be served: For nonpayment, the Notice of Past Due Rent / intent to file must be served by certified mail or a delivery service providing delivery-tracking confirmation (return receipt requested) AND by hand delivery to the rental unit or posting on the front door of the unit. Other notices to vacate are filed with the court and copies served on the tenant; many notices must also be filed with the Rent Administrator (DHCD/RAD). DHCD publishes mandatory RAD notice forms (e.g., Form 10 nonpayment, Form 11 illegal act). CAUTION: the published DHCD RAD Form 10 still states a 30-day pay period and lags the Dec. 31, 2025 RENTAL Act amendment that reduced the statutory pre-filing notice to 10 days.
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm District of Columbia and local rules first.
District of Columbia Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) Rules
A Notice to Terminate Tenancy (also called a notice to vacate or non-renewal) ends a month-to-month tenancy without alleging fault. The landlord must give the state's required advance notice. Some states (and cities) require "just cause" and limit no-fault terminations.
District of Columbia does not set a standard statutory period for this notice — confirm the requirement before serving. No-cause termination of a residential tenancy is NOT permitted. DC is a just-cause jurisdiction: a tenant who continues to pay rent and abide by the lease cannot be evicted even after the lease expires (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)). The closest no-fault grounds are owner/relative personal use (90-day notice to vacate) and good-faith sale (90-day notice), demolition (180-day notice), substantial rehabilitation (120-day notice), and discontinuance of housing use (180-day notice), each with statutory conditions. Set to -1 because a plain no-cause 30-day termination does not exist. The notice is served under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01 (Evictions); 10-day nonpayment notice per D.C. Law 26-80 (RENTAL Amendment Act of 2025), § 101(b)(1), eff. Dec. 31, 2025, amending § 42-3505.01(a-1)(1).
Just cause: District-wide just-cause eviction protection under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01. Landlords may recover possession only for the enumerated statutory grounds (nonpayment, lease/obligation violation, illegal act, owner/relative personal use, sale, demolition, substantial rehabilitation, discontinuance of housing use, etc.). Lease expiration alone is not a ground.
How to Serve a Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) in District of Columbia
For nonpayment, the Notice of Past Due Rent / intent to file must be served by certified mail or a delivery service providing delivery-tracking confirmation (return receipt requested) AND by hand delivery to the rental unit or posting on the front door of the unit. Other notices to vacate are filed with the court and copies served on the tenant; many notices must also be filed with the Rent Administrator (DHCD/RAD). DHCD publishes mandatory RAD notice forms (e.g., Form 10 nonpayment, Form 11 illegal act). CAUTION: the published DHCD RAD Form 10 still states a 30-day pay period and lags the Dec. 31, 2025 RENTAL Act amendment that reduced the statutory pre-filing notice to 10 days. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a District of Columbia notice to terminate tenancy (no cause)?
District of Columbia does not set a standard statutory period for this notice — confirm the requirement before serving. No-cause termination of a residential tenancy is NOT permitted. DC is a just-cause jurisdiction: a tenant who continues to pay rent and abide by the lease cannot be evicted even after the lease expires (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)). The closest no-fault grounds are owner/relative personal use (90-day notice to vacate) and good-faith sale (90-day notice), demolition (180-day notice), substantial rehabilitation (120-day notice), and discontinuance of housing use (180-day notice), each with statutory conditions. Set to -1 because a plain no-cause 30-day termination does not exist.
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in District of Columbia court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method District of Columbia allows.
Disclaimer
This District of Columbia notice to terminate tenancy (no cause) generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm District of Columbia and local requirements before serving.