14 Day Eviction Notice Template You Can Use Today?

A 14‑day eviction notice is a written demand that a tenant cure a lease violation within fourteen days or face termination. It exists only in a minority of states or local ordinances, such as Washington's cure‑or‑quit notice rules. Most jurisdictions require a longer notice - often 30 days - for general breach or a much shorter pay‑or‑quit notice for missed rent. Because statutes dictate the required timeline, landlords must verify the applicable law before using the form.

The notice must be delivered in accordance with state‑specific service rules to be enforceable.

Typical allowed uses include unauthorized pets, subletting without permission, or damage that exceeds normal wear, provided the local code permits a 14‑day cure period. If a tenant repeatedly violates a no‑smoking clause in a city that adopts a 14‑day cure, the landlord can issue the notice outlining the violation and the deadline.

For non‑payment of rent, a 14‑day notice is generally illegal; states like California and Texas demand a three‑day pay‑or‑quit instead. A landlord who tries to substitute the short notice with a 14‑day version risks dismissal of the eviction case. Always cross‑check the lease language against statutory minimums, because a lease cannot override a required three‑day or thirty‑day period.

Issue a 14‑day notice only when state or local law expressly permits a two‑week cure period. Below are the situations where that permission typically appears.

• The jurisdiction's 'pay‑or‑quit' rule allows a 14‑day window for overdue rent instead of the common 3‑ to 5‑day deadline (Nolo on eviction notices).
• The lease contains a breach clause that triggers a 14‑day remedy period and the governing municipality recognizes it (e.g., unauthorized pets, repeated noise violations).
• A month‑to‑month tenancy ends under a city ordinance that caps termination notices at 14 days, overriding the usual 30‑day requirement.
• The property is slated for sale, demolition, or conversion and local law mandates a 14‑day notice to give tenants time to vacate.
• A court‑ordered eviction specifies a final 14‑day warning after previous violations, making it the last legal chance to correct the issue.

Here's how to personalize the 14‑day notice so it complies with most state rules and fits your rental situation.

1. Add a clear title. Use '14‑Day Notice to Vacate' at the top; bold the words so the purpose is obvious at a glance.
2. Enter accurate contact info. List the landlord's full name, mailing address, and phone number, then the tenant's name and unit address. This prevents disputes about who received the notice.
3. State the breach and cure deadline. Write a concise sentence such as 'You are behind on rent by $850; pay the total within 14 days or vacate the premises.' Include 'generally' to acknowledge jurisdictional differences.
4. Insert required legal language. Add a clause like 'This notice is provided in accordance with [state] landlord‑tenant law and may be served by certified mail.' Tailor the statute reference to your state's code.
5. Choose a delivery method checkbox. Provide options (certified mail, hand delivery, email) and a line for the date each method is used; check the one you intend to employ.
6. Reserve space for a signature line. Include 'Landlord Signature' and a date field; the tenant should sign an acknowledgment if required in your area.
7. Save an editable master file. Keep the customized template in Word or Google Docs, then export a PDF for each new notice to maintain consistency and legal formatting.

These steps let you quickly adapt the 14‑day notice to any property, ensuring it looks professional and meets the legal baseline before you move to the 'Include These Key Notice Elements' section.

A solid 14‑day notice generally contains the following essential elements, which together make the document recognizable and enforceable in most jurisdictions.

• Date of notice and clear heading identifying it as a '14‑day notice'
• Full names and current address of both landlord and tenant
• Specific breach description (e.g., unpaid rent, rule violation) and amount owed if applicable
• Exact deadline (14 days from the notice date) and the calendar date by which the tenant must cure
• Statement of consequences for non‑compliance, typically filing an eviction action
• Required statutory language or references to local law (often mandated by state or city codes)
• Proof of delivery method (certified mail receipt, hand‑delivery acknowledgment, etc.)
• Landlord's signature and contact information

Deliver your 14‑day notice legally today by using one of the three generally accepted methods: hand‑deliver it to the tenant and have them sign an acknowledgment, send it via certified mail with return receipt, or post it on the property's main door while also mailing a copy. Each method creates a verifiable paper trail, which courts usually require to reject claims of improper service.

Keep the signed receipt, the mail tracking sheet, or a dated photo of the posted notice in your files; note the exact time, date, and who received it. This documentation will protect you when you move to the next step - reviewing real‑world scenarios in the upcoming section. For a detailed guide on serving eviction notices, see how to serve an eviction notice.

• Illinois non‑payment of rent. State law caps the cure period at five days (§ 9‑210 Ill. Comp. Stat.). Sending a 14‑day notice still informs the tenant, but it exceeds the statutory deadline and may delay eviction proceedings. (Illinois landlord‑tenant statutes)
• New York lease‑violation (including an unauthorized pet). Most violations require a 14‑day notice to cure, provided the lease expressly bans the conduct. The notice must name the breach and set a deadline for correction before the landlord can pursue a hold‑over action. (New York eviction‑notice requirements)
• Washington holdover after lease expiration. State law allows a 10‑day notice (§ 59.12 RCW), yet many landlords issue a 14‑day notice to give extra leeway. The longer period is permissible but not required, and the notice must state the tenancy termination date. (Washington RCW 59.12)
• California property‑damage or other breach. The standard cure window is three days (§ 1161 and 1161.2 Cal. Civ. Code). A 14‑day notice would be ineffective for triggering a statutory eviction, though it could serve as a goodwill reminder. Include the specific damage, a repair deadline, and the legal reference. (California Civil Code 1161)
• Generic lease‑term breach in jurisdictions that permit a 14‑day cure. Certain local ordinances (e.g., some Mid‑Atlantic cities) give landlords up to two weeks to demand remedy for noises, smoking, or subletting violations. The notice must list the prohibited behavior, cite the lease clause, and set the exact correction date. (Sample municipal eviction notice guidelines)

Paying the rent after a 14‑day notice for nonpayment typically wipes out the breach, because the landlord's acceptance of money usually waives that specific notice and halts the eviction clock; to proceed, the landlord must start a new notice and give the tenant another full 14‑day period. If the notice addressed a different violation - such as a pet rule or repeated noise - payment does not cure the breach, so the landlord can keep the original notice in effect as long as the underlying issue persists, though courts often demand proof that the violation is independent of rent status.

As we covered earlier, correct delivery of the notice safeguards against procedural errors that could later derail the case. Should the tenant miss another payment, the landlord may file a fresh eviction action once the new notice runs out, generally following the same steps outlined in the later 'track your post‑notice eviction steps' section.

Here are the four most common 14‑day notice pitfalls landlords should avoid.

• Serve the notice in a format or at a location that the law doesn't recognize, which generally invalidates the notice.
• Miscalculate the start date and thus miss the strict 14‑day deadline, depending on jurisdiction.
• Omit required legal language such as the eviction reason and tenant's cure rights, which can be challenged.
• Disregard local service rules, for example failing to use certified mail when Nolo advises proper notice delivery.

After you deliver the 14‑day notice, track each subsequent action on a dated checklist so you stay within legal limits.

1. Record the exact date you served the 14‑day notice and any tenant response; note whether rent was paid during the notice period.
2. Mark the day the 14‑day period ends; if the tenant remains, schedule the filing of the eviction complaint. Generally, courts require the complaint to be filed within a set number of days after the notice expires.
3. Enter the filing date, the court's case number, and the assigned hearing date into your log; keep copies of all filings.
4. Watch the docket for any motions or continuances; update your spreadsheet with any new hearing dates or court orders.
5. Once the court issues a judgment granting possession, request a writ of possession. Depending on jurisdiction, the writ may take several days to issue, so note the issuance date.
6. Arrange for the sheriff (or equivalent authority) to enforce the writ; record the scheduled enforcement date and confirm that lock changes or tenant move‑out occur only after the sheriff's entry. Avoid any self‑help actions that could violate the law.

If the tenant ignores the 14‑day notice, act quickly and follow a documented escalation plan. First, confirm that the original notice was properly delivered, then move through a series of legally‑backed steps before filing an eviction suit.

• Verify delivery: check the proof of service you used in 'Deliver your notice legally today.'
• Send a written reminder: use certified mail or email with read receipt, citing the original 14‑day notice and the missed deadline.
• Log every contact: keep dates, method, and tenant's response in a spreadsheet or binder.
• Issue a formal breach or 'pay‑or‑quit' notice: generally required when the tenant fails to cure the violation within the original period; wording must match local statutes.
• Initiate eviction proceedings: if the tenant still does not comply, file the complaint with the court and attach all documentation you gathered.

Now that you have a clear escalation path, you can smoothly move into the next section on 'Track your post‑notice eviction steps,' where you'll learn how to monitor deadlines and court filings.