Texas Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (3-Day)
Create a free Texas notice to pay rent or quit. Texas requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
Texas requirement
Texas requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. Texas uses a single statutory "notice to vacate" period, not a separate pay-or-quit notice. The statutory minimum is 3 days (calendar days) for a tenant who defaults (including nonpayment of rent), UNLESS the written lease contracts for a shorter or longer period — most Texas residential leases shorten this. Post-SB 38, for a nonpayment eviction where the tenant was current before the month notice is given, the landlord must use a "notice to pay rent or vacate" rather than a plain notice to vacate. There is no statutory grace period or statewide right to cure by paying; the 3 days is the only floor unless the lease says otherwise.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Texas requires a 3-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. Texas uses a single statutory "notice to vacate" period, not a separate pay-or-quit notice. The statutory minimum is 3 days (calendar days) for a tenant who defaults (including nonpayment of rent), UNLESS the written lease contracts for a shorter or longer period — most Texas residential leases shorten this. Post-SB 38, for a nonpayment eviction where the tenant was current before the month notice is given, the landlord must use a "notice to pay rent or vacate" rather than a plain notice to vacate. There is no statutory grace period or statewide right to cure by paying; the 3 days is the only floor unless the lease says otherwise.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Texas)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
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 rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 3 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
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 Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 91.001 (Notice to Vacate Prior to Filing Eviction Suit; Notice for Terminating Certain Tenancies).
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.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: Under §24.005, the notice to vacate must be delivered by at least one of: (1) mail (first class, registered, certified, or a delivery service); (2) delivery to the inside of the premises in a conspicuous place; (3) in-person/hand delivery to any tenant 16 years of age or older; or (4) if the parties have agreed in writing, electronic communication (e.g., email). The notice period runs from the day the notice is delivered (former §24.005(g); preserved post-SB 38). SB 38 (89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 960), applicable to suits filed on or after Jan. 1, 2026, repealed the prior delivery subsections (f)-(i) and reorganized these delivery methods, but kept the 3-day default period.
_______________________________________
[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 Texas and local rules first.
Texas Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Rules
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
Texas requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. Texas uses a single statutory "notice to vacate" period, not a separate pay-or-quit notice. The statutory minimum is 3 days (calendar days) for a tenant who defaults (including nonpayment of rent), UNLESS the written lease contracts for a shorter or longer period — most Texas residential leases shorten this. Post-SB 38, for a nonpayment eviction where the tenant was current before the month notice is given, the landlord must use a "notice to pay rent or vacate" rather than a plain notice to vacate. There is no statutory grace period or statewide right to cure by paying; the 3 days is the only floor unless the lease says otherwise. The notice is served under Tex. Prop. Code §§ 24.005, 91.001 (Notice to Vacate Prior to Filing Eviction Suit; Notice for Terminating Certain Tenancies).
How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in Texas
Under §24.005, the notice to vacate must be delivered by at least one of: (1) mail (first class, registered, certified, or a delivery service); (2) delivery to the inside of the premises in a conspicuous place; (3) in-person/hand delivery to any tenant 16 years of age or older; or (4) if the parties have agreed in writing, electronic communication (e.g., email). The notice period runs from the day the notice is delivered (former §24.005(g); preserved post-SB 38). SB 38 (89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 960), applicable to suits filed on or after Jan. 1, 2026, repealed the prior delivery subsections (f)-(i) and reorganized these delivery methods, but kept the 3-day default period. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a Texas notice to pay rent or quit?
Texas requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. Texas uses a single statutory "notice to vacate" period, not a separate pay-or-quit notice. The statutory minimum is 3 days (calendar days) for a tenant who defaults (including nonpayment of rent), UNLESS the written lease contracts for a shorter or longer period — most Texas residential leases shorten this. Post-SB 38, for a nonpayment eviction where the tenant was current before the month notice is given, the landlord must use a "notice to pay rent or vacate" rather than a plain notice to vacate. There is no statutory grace period or statewide right to cure by paying; the 3 days is the only floor unless the lease says otherwise.
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in Texas 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 Texas allows.
Disclaimer
This Texas notice to pay rent or quit generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Texas and local requirements before serving.