Need A 60-Day Eviction Notice Template Or Form?

You need a 60‑day eviction notice when you are ending a month‑to‑month tenancy that has lasted more than a year in states that require a longer notice period (for example, California) or when the lease itself mandates two months' notice for a no‑fault termination; most cause evictions - such as non‑payment or lease violations - use much shorter cure periods (typically 3‑14 days), so a 60‑day notice is generally not appropriate.

• Terminating a month‑to‑month tenancy after the tenant has occupied the unit for 12 + months in jurisdictions that specify a 60‑day period.
• Ending a fixed‑term lease early when the rental agreement expressly calls for a 60‑day notice.
• Owner‑move‑in, major property sale, or conversion to owner‑occupied use where local law permits a 60‑day no‑fault termination.
• Complying with state‑specific requirements for terminating certain subsidized or government‑assisted housing programs that allow a 60‑day notice.
• Any situation where a local ordinance or court order specifically dictates a 60‑day notice, regardless of tenancy type.

(Always check your state or municipal statutes or consult an attorney to confirm the exact requirement.)

A 60‑day eviction notice generally ends a month‑to‑month tenancy without alleging a lease violation. Typical triggers include owner occupancy, close‑family move‑in, extensive renovations, demolition, or a sale that requires vacant possession.

• Landlord or owner plans to move into the unit themselves.
• Close family member - spouse, parent, or child - needs the space.
• Major renovation will render the unit uninhabitable during construction.
• Demolition of the building or specific unit mandates vacancy.
• Sale of the property includes a clause that the buyer must take possession empty.
• State statutes may limit these uses; always verify local regulations before serving the notice.

A 60-day eviction notice gives both landlord and tenant ample time to plan, which typically lowers the chance of rushed moves, missed deadlines, and costly court disputes. Compared with a 14‑ or 30‑day notice, the extra weeks let tenants secure new housing, arrange movers, and address lease‑break fees, while landlords avoid emergency re‑listing and potential claims of improper notice. (See our earlier 'when do you actually need a 60‑day notice?' for trigger details.)

Shorter notices compress that entire process into days, often forcing tenants into last‑minute solutions, increasing the likelihood of false‑claim defenses, and creating paperwork errors that can invalidate the eviction. Landlords who rely on brief notices frequently encounter higher turnover costs and may need to restart the eviction cycle. For a deeper look at state‑specific notice requirements, check Nolo's eviction notice forms guide.

• Title the document '60‑Day Eviction Notice' so the purpose is unmistakable.
• List landlord's name, tenant's name, and the full rental address for clear identification.
• State the 60‑day period explicitly and give the exact move‑out date (e.g., 'You must vacate by May 31, 2026').
• Include the legal reason for termination if your state requires it (non‑payment, lease end, etc.).
• Use the wording required by your jurisdiction; check local statutes at state eviction notice requirements.
• Add landlord's signature, printed name, and current contact information for verification.
• Record how you delivered the notice (certified mail, hand delivery, etc.) in your files; this proof supports enforceability but need not appear inside the notice itself.

Tailor your 60-day eviction notice to the rules of the state where the rental sits. State statutes dictate required wording, delivery method, and any additional disclosures, so a one‑size‑fits‑all template rarely complies.

1. Identify the governing state. Look at the lease, property address, and any jurisdiction clauses; the state's laws control the notice regardless of where you drafted the form.
2. Read the statutory language requirement. Most states require a specific phrase such as 'you are required to vacate the premises within sixty (60) days' or a citation of the relevant code; insert that exact wording.
3. Choose the legally acceptable delivery method. Some states allow personal service, others require certified mail with return receipt, and a few permit email if the lease permits; follow the method that the state mandates.
4. Add any state‑mandated disclosures. Certain jurisdictions require notice of the tenant's right to contest the eviction, contact information for local legal aid, or a statement about rent‑stabilization; include these verbatim.
5. Verify the notice period aligns with local law. While the template uses sixty days, a few states shorten the period for month‑to‑month tenants or extend it for seasonal leases; adjust the countdown accordingly.

These steps adapt the universal 7‑element framework from the previous section to the nuances of each state, ensuring your 60-day notice meets local legal standards before you move on to real‑world scenarios.

A month‑to‑month renter can be asked to leave with a 60‑day eviction notice, but the required notice period isn't the same everywhere; many states accept 30 days, while places like California mandate 60 days for tenancies over a year (check local laws or an attorney to confirm the exact term). Deliver the notice in writing, using a method allowed in your state (hand delivery, certified mail, or posted notice) to avoid invalidating the eviction.

For example, a Texas landlord may give a 60‑day notice even though 30 days would suffice, and the notice remains enforceable; in contrast, a California landlord must provide exactly 60 days once the tenant has occupied the unit for 12 months, and any shorter notice could be dismissed. This scenario illustrates why precise timing matters before you move on to handling more delicate cases like family tenant evictions. state notice requirements for month‑to‑month leases

When a family member lives as a tenant, use the 60‑day eviction notice with extra care to keep the relationship intact. Treat the notice as a business document, not a family dispute, and follow state‑specific rules before you speak.

• Separate the personal connection from the landlord role; keep tone professional and factual.
• Verify that your state permits a 60‑day notice for no‑fault evictions - California, for example, requires a 60‑day notice for month‑to‑month tenants who have lived there over a year (California's 60‑day notice rule); other states may use 30 days or different criteria.
• Deliver the notice in writing, hand‑hand or certified mail, and keep a signed receipt.
• Offer concrete help: a list of nearby rentals, a modest moving‑cost credit, or a flexible move‑out date within the 60‑day window.
• Document every conversation and any agreed‑upon adjustments; these notes protect both parties if the case goes to court.
• Consult an attorney to confirm local filing deadlines, which can be immediate after the notice expires or require an additional waiting period.

Following these steps lets you enforce the 60‑day eviction notice while preserving family ties, and prepares you to avoid the hidden pitfalls covered next.

Avoid these four hidden pitfalls in your 60‑day notice draft.

• Leaving out the effective move‑out date or misplacing it so the tenant can ignore the deadline.
• Skipping the required legal basis, such as citing lease breach or nonpayment, which lets the notice be dismissed.
• Using informal language or slang; formal legal wording is needed for the notice to be taken seriously.
• Forgetting to include clear instructions and contact details for the tenant to respond or contest.

The moment you hand over the 60‑day notice, the tenant's clock starts ticking; they have up to 60 days to move out, and you begin tracking their compliance. During this window you can schedule a final‑walk‑through, arrange repairs, and list the unit for rent, while keeping a copy of the notice and any tenant responses for the record.

If the tenant remains after the deadline, you file an unlawful detainer action and continue documenting all communications. Simultaneously you prepare for turnover - order cleaning, set a move‑out inspection date, and consider mediation if disputes arise. These steps feed directly into the upcoming section on track success: 60‑day notice outcomes by state.

Track success by logging every 60‑day notice you deliver, noting tenant response, filing date, and final disposition in a simple spreadsheet. Include columns for state, notice‑delivery method, date of receipt, written tenant reply, court filing (if any), and outcome (vacated, negotiated move‑out, or litigation). Update the row as events occur; the 60‑day window makes the timeline easy to visualize.

Outcomes differ by jurisdiction. In California, where just‑cause rules limit eviction reasons, landlords often see negotiated move‑outs after the notice period, while litigation rates rise in rent‑controlled cities (source: California Department of Housing). Texas, an at‑will tenancy state, typically records quicker voluntary departures but still reports occasional court filings when tenants dispute the notice (source: Texas Attorney General). New York's rent‑stabilization statutes cause many notices to convert into rent‑increase negotiations rather than actual moves, and Florida's 'no‑cause' provisions yield higher vacancy rates after the 60‑day period (source: Florida Senate).

These snapshots illustrate why raw percentages are unreliable across states.

Because local court backlogs and housing‑policy changes affect results, cross‑check your data with state‑specific eviction‑tracker tools or housing‑authority reports before drawing conclusions. Adjust your tracking sheet to reflect any new legal updates, and consult a local attorney if patterns suggest unusually high dispute rates.