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Ohio · Notice to Vacate Requirements

Ohio Notice to Vacate: 3 days Pay-or-Quit, 30 days (month-to-month) No-Fault

Ohio's Landlord-Tenant Act (ORC § 1923.04) requires a 3-day written notice to vacate before filing an eviction action for non-payment of rent. For other lease violations, landlords must give 30 days' notice. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days' notice to terminate. Ohio has no statewide just cause requirement, though some municipalities (Columbus, Cleveland) have enacted tenant protections.

Ohio requires only a 3-day notice to vacate for non-payment, but a 30-day notice is required to terminate any lease violation or month-to-month tenancy.

Pay-or-quit notice

3 days

Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.04

Cure notice (violation)

30 days for non-compliance with lease terms (ORC § 5321.11)

No-fault / termination

30 days (month-to-month)

Important: Ohio has no statewide just cause requirement. Month-to-month tenancies can be terminated with 30 days' written notice. Fixed-term leases expire at the end of the term unless renewed.

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Ohio Notice to Vacate FAQs

How much notice is required to vacate in Ohio?

3 days for non-payment of rent. 30 days for lease violations or no-fault month-to-month terminations. ORC § 1923.04; ORC § 5321.11.

Does Ohio require just cause to evict a tenant?

No statewide just cause requirement. Columbus and some other municipalities have adopted tenant protection ordinances, verify local rules if the property is in a major city.

Do I need a lawyer to serve a notice to vacate?

Not required. Ohio eviction proceedings are handled in Municipal Court and are typically accessible without an attorney for standard cases.

What happens if a tenant stays after a Ohio vacate notice?

After the 3-day (or 30-day) notice expires, file an eviction complaint in the local Municipal or County Court. Hearings are usually set within 7-20 days of filing.

Eviction notice requirements change frequently. Verify current rules in your jurisdiction before serving. kweldoc is a document drafting tool, not a law firm.