Wisconsin Eviction Notice
Create a free Wisconsin eviction notice with the state's required notice periods built in. Pick the notice type, fill in the details, and download a PDF.
Wisconsin notice periods
Nonpayment: 5 days · Lease violation (cure): 5 days · No-cause termination: 28 days.
Tenant Name(s)
Live Preview
⚠ Wisconsin requires a 5-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. Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(a) & (2)(a): for a tenancy of one year or less (and year-to-year), the FIRST nonpayment default requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or vacate. If the tenant cured a prior nonpayment notice (or was allowed to stay) and defaults again within one year, the landlord may serve a 14-day no-cure notice instead. Separately, for a month-to-month tenancy the landlord may always elect a 14-day notice for nonpayment (704.17(1p)(a)). Days are calendar days counted from the day the notice is given (704.17(5)/704.19). For a tenancy of MORE than one year, the period is 30 days (704.17(3)(a)). The 5-day notice gives the tenant a right to cure by paying; the 14-day notice does not. Late fees/grace periods are governed by the lease, not statute.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Wisconsin)
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 5 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 Wis. Stat. §§ 704.17, 704.19, 704.21 (notices); evictions filed under Wis. Stat. ch. 799 (small claims).
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: Wis. Stat. 704.21(1): notice may be served by (1) personal delivery to the tenant, or leaving a copy at the tenant's usual abode with a competent family member at least 14 years old; (2) leaving a copy with a person apparently in charge of/occupying the premises AND mailing a copy to the tenant's last-known address; (3) if other methods fail despite reasonable diligence, conspicuously affixing (posting) the notice on the premises AND mailing a copy; (4) registered or certified mail to the tenant's last-known address; or (5) serving as a summons is served. Improper service is still valid if the tenant actually received the notice, proven by clear and convincing evidence (704.21(5)). No extra mailing days are added to the statutory notice periods, but counting begins the day the notice is given.
_______________________________________
[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. Notice periods, wording, and service rules vary by state and city. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court.
Wisconsin Eviction Notice Requirements
In Wisconsin, a landlord must serve a written notice before filing for eviction under Wis. Stat. §§ 704.17, 704.19, 704.21 (notices); evictions filed under Wis. Stat. ch. 799 (small claims). The required notice period depends on the reason:
- Nonpayment of rent: 5-day notice to pay or quit. Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(a) & (2)(a): for a tenancy of one year or less (and year-to-year), the FIRST nonpayment default requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or vacate. If the tenant cured a prior nonpayment notice (or was allowed to stay) and defaults again within one year, the landlord may serve a 14-day no-cure notice instead. Separately, for a month-to-month tenancy the landlord may always elect a 14-day notice for nonpayment (704.17(1p)(a)). Days are calendar days counted from the day the notice is given (704.17(5)/704.19). For a tenancy of MORE than one year, the period is 30 days (704.17(3)(a)). The 5-day notice gives the tenant a right to cure by paying; the 14-day notice does not. Late fees/grace periods are governed by the lease, not statute.
- Curable lease violation: 5-day notice to cure or quit. Wis. Stat. 704.17(2)(b): for a tenancy of one year or less (and year-to-year), a breach of the lease other than nonpayment (including waste) requires a 5-day notice to remedy the default or vacate. The tenant may avoid termination by curing within the 5 days. For a tenancy of more than one year, the cure period is 30 days, with the tenant able to comply by taking reasonable steps and proceeding with reasonable diligence (704.17(3)(b)).
- No-cause termination (month-to-month): 28-day notice. Wis. Stat. 704.19(3): a month-to-month (or other periodic tenancy shorter than year-to-year) is terminated without cause by at least 28 days' written notice. The notice must be effective at the end of a rental period (704.19(2)(b)1) -- e.g., if rent is due the 1st, the notice runs to the last day of the month. A year-to-year tenancy requires at least 28 days' notice ending at the end of the rental year (non-agricultural; agricultural year-to-year requires 90 days). No-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy is allowed; Wisconsin has no statewide just-cause requirement.
Service: Wis. Stat. 704.21(1): notice may be served by (1) personal delivery to the tenant, or leaving a copy at the tenant's usual abode with a competent family member at least 14 years old; (2) leaving a copy with a person apparently in charge of/occupying the premises AND mailing a copy to the tenant's last-known address; (3) if other methods fail despite reasonable diligence, conspicuously affixing (posting) the notice on the premises AND mailing a copy; (4) registered or certified mail to the tenant's last-known address; or (5) serving as a summons is served. Improper service is still valid if the tenant actually received the notice, proven by clear and convincing evidence (704.21(5)). No extra mailing days are added to the statutory notice periods, but counting begins the day the notice is given.
- Wisconsin notice periods depend on tenancy length. For a tenancy of one year or less (the typical month-to-month or short lease): 5 days to pay rent or quit (first default), 5 days to cure other lease breaches; for a tenancy of MORE than one year, all of these become 30 days (Wis. Stat. 704.17(3)).
- A 14-day NO-CURE notice applies to a second nonpayment or second lease violation within one year, and the landlord may always use a 14-day notice for nonpayment on a month-to-month tenancy (704.17(1p)(a)).
- Criminal, drug-related, or threatening activity by the tenant or a guest allows a 5-day no-cure notice to vacate under 704.17(3m) (not available if the tenant is the victim of the activity).
- A month-to-month tenancy is ended without cause by 28 days' written notice, effective at the end of a rental period (704.19(3)); non-agricultural year-to-year tenancies also use 28 days, ending at the end of the rental year (agricultural year-to-year requires 90 days).
- Wisconsin has no statewide just-cause eviction law; Wis. Stat. 66.0104 preempts local rent control and many tenant-protective ordinances. Eviction lawsuits are filed as small-claims actions under ch. 799 only after the notice period expires.
- After a notice expires without cure, the landlord cannot self-evict; a court eviction action under ch. 799 and a sheriff-executed writ of restitution are required.
Wisconsin Eviction Notices by Type
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days notice to evict for nonpayment in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or quit before a landlord can file for eviction. Wis. Stat. 704.17(1p)(a) & (2)(a): for a tenancy of one year or less (and year-to-year), the FIRST nonpayment default requires a 5-day notice to pay rent or vacate. If the tenant cured a prior nonpayment notice (or was allowed to stay) and defaults again within one year, the landlord may serve a 14-day no-cure notice instead. Separately, for a month-to-month tenancy the landlord may always elect a 14-day notice for nonpayment (704.17(1p)(a)). Days are calendar days counted from the day the notice is given (704.17(5)/704.19). For a tenancy of MORE than one year, the period is 30 days (704.17(3)(a)). The 5-day notice gives the tenant a right to cure by paying; the 14-day notice does not. Late fees/grace periods are governed by the lease, not statute.
Can a landlord evict without notice in Wisconsin?
No. A written notice is required before filing, and only a court can order a tenant removed. Self-help lockouts are illegal.
Does Wisconsin require just cause to evict?
Wisconsin does not have a statewide just-cause requirement, though some cities may. A month-to-month tenancy can generally be ended with a 28-day notice.
Disclaimer
This Wisconsin eviction notice generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Wisconsin and local requirements before serving, and consult a landlord-tenant attorney for contested cases.