Housing & Tenant · Eviction Notice
Eviction Notice in Ohio
How many days of written notice a landlord must give before filing an eviction in Ohio, broken down by reason, and what you can do about it, cited to the statute.
Every notice period in Ohio
The written notice for each reason a landlord can end a tenancy, and what each one means.
| Reason for the notice | Notice in Ohio | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Nonpayment of rent | 3 days | A 3-day written notice to leave the premises before the landlord files (§1923.04). Ohio has no statewide statutory right to cure unpaid rent, so paying does not by itself stop the notice, though a landlord who accepts full rent generally waives the right to evict on it. For a residential rental the notice must contain the required statutory language, word for word. |
| Lease violation or holding over | 3 days | The same 3-day notice to leave under §1923.04 applies to a material lease violation or to staying past the end of the term. The statute sets one 3-day period regardless of the ground, and the residential notice must carry the statutory warning language. |
| No-cause end of a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days | A 30-day written notice ends a month-to-month tenancy under §5321.17, given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date. That notice ends the tenancy; the landlord must then serve the separate 3-day §1923.04 notice to leave before filing. |
| End of a fixed-term lease | None by statute | A fixed-term lease ends on its own date, and no statutory notice is required to decline renewal unless the lease says so. If the tenant holds over, the landlord still serves the 3-day §1923.04 notice to leave before filing. |
| After the notice | Court | After the 3-day notice expires, the landlord files a forcible entry and detainer action in municipal or county court. The tenant is served with a summons and can appear at the hearing to contest. Only a court order (a writ of restitution) carried out by a bailiff or the sheriff can remove a tenant. |
| Statute | Ohio Rev. Code §1923.04; §5321.17 | The controlling statute for these notice periods. Read the full text through the source link below. |
Ohio courts treat the exact statutory warning language on a residential 3-day notice as a strict requirement, and the 3-day notice itself as a prerequisite to filing. A notice that omits or garbles the language can be dismissed, forcing the landlord to start over.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you have received an eviction notice in Ohio. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Check the notice for the required language
A residential 3-day notice must contain the exact statutory warning that you are being asked to leave and may seek legal help. Confirm the wording is there and note the date it was served, because the 3 days run from service.
- Try to resolve it within the 3 days
Ohio has no statutory right to cure unpaid rent, but a landlord who accepts full rent usually waives the eviction. If you pay or work out an agreement, get written confirmation that the tenancy continues before the 3 days run out.
- Go to the court hearing
If the landlord files a forcible entry and detainer case, you are served with a summons and a hearing date. Show up. Bring your lease, receipts, and any messages. A tenant who does not appear can lose by default and face a writ of restitution.
- Get free Ohio eviction help
Ohio Legal Help explains each notice, the court timeline, and how to prepare for a hearing, and can point you to a local legal aid office. Acting before the hearing date gives you the most options.
If you have received a notice, you can still act. This resource explains your rights and the deadlines, and points you to local help.
→ Ohio Legal Help (Eviction)This is general legal information, not legal advice. Read your own lease and check for a local ordinance, since either can change the notice that applies to your home.
What Ohio renters get wrong
Ohio uses one short notice for almost every eviction, and it is shorter than most people expect. Before filing, the landlord must give a 3-day written notice to leave the premises under Ohio Revised Code §1923.04, whether the reason is unpaid rent, a lease violation, or holding over past the term. What trips landlords up is the wording: for a residential rental the notice must contain the exact statutory warning, telling the tenant they are being asked to leave and should seek legal help if in doubt, and Ohio courts throw out notices that omit it. Ohio has no statewide right to cure unpaid rent, so paying does not automatically stop the notice, though a landlord who accepts full rent generally gives up the right to evict on it. Ending a month-to-month tenancy for no reason is different: that takes a 30-day notice under §5321.17 to end the tenancy, followed by the separate 3-day notice before filing. After the 3 days run, the landlord files a forcible entry and detainer case, and only a court order carried out by a bailiff or the sheriff can actually remove a tenant.
Common questions
How many days notice does a landlord give before eviction in Ohio?
Three days. Ohio Revised Code §1923.04 requires a 3-day written notice to leave the premises before the landlord can file, and the same 3-day notice covers unpaid rent, lease violations, and holding over. Ending a month-to-month tenancy for no cause first takes a separate 30-day notice under §5321.17.
What language has to be on an Ohio 3-day notice?
For a residential rental, the notice must contain the exact statutory warning that you are being asked to leave, that an eviction may be filed if you do not, and that you should seek legal help if in doubt about your rights. Ohio courts treat that wording as a strict requirement, and a notice that leaves it out can be dismissed.
Can I stop an Ohio eviction by paying the rent?
Not automatically. Ohio has no statewide statutory right to cure unpaid rent, so paying within the 3 days does not by itself end the case. But a landlord who accepts full rent generally waives the right to evict on that notice, so if you pay, get written confirmation that the tenancy continues.
How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in Ohio?
A 30-day written notice under Ohio Revised Code §5321.17, given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date. That notice ends the tenancy. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord must then serve the separate 3-day §1923.04 notice to leave before filing an eviction.
What happens after the 3-day notice in Ohio?
If you do not leave, the landlord files a forcible entry and detainer action in municipal or county court, and you are served with a summons and a hearing date. You can appear and contest it. Only a court order, a writ of restitution carried out by a bailiff or the sheriff, can remove you; a landlord cannot change the locks or shut off utilities.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.