Violations, entry & non-renewal

How does a landlord end a month-to-month tenancy, and can it be mailed?

Updated November 12, 2026 · By the Landlord Notice Mail team

Give the written notice your state requires, ending on a valid date, by a method the statute allows. In California it is 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year and 60 days after a year, and the notice can be served like an eviction notice or sent by certified or registered mail. New York uses 30, 60 or 90 days based on tenancy length; Florida requires at least 30 days before the end of a monthly period.

Month-to-month termination by the landlord
State	Notice	Delivery	Source
California	30 days (under 1 year); 60 days (1 year or more)	Hand, substituted or post-and-mail service, or certified or registered mail	Civil Code 1946.1, self-help
New York	30, 60 or 90 days by tenancy length	Written notice	RPL 226-c
Florida	At least 30 days before the end of a monthly period	Written notice	F.S. 83.57
Nebraska	Check the statute	Check the statute	Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1437
Wisconsin	Check the statute	Methods listed in 704.21	Wis. Stat. 704.21

Just cause can apply even to month-to-month

California's Tenant Protection Act generally requires just cause once a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months, and no-fault terminations require relocation help. Several cities have stricter rules. A notice without a required reason can be invalid.

Mailing tips

Count from when the notice is served or received under your state's rule, not when you write it.
Add extra days for mailing where the state adds them. See extra days for mailing.
Address the notice to every adult tenant. See notices to every tenant.

Quick answers

Does a 30 day notice have to be sent by certified mail?

Not in most states, but where mail is allowed, certified mail with return receipt is the best proof. In California, certified or registered mail is one of the allowed methods for a 30- or 60-day notice.

Can a 30-day notice end mid-month?

It depends on the state; some require the notice to end at the end of a rental period. Florida ties it to the end of a monthly period.

What about Wisconsin and Nebraska?

Both set notice periods and service methods by statute (Wis. Stat. 704.21 for service in Wisconsin; Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-1437 in Nebraska). Read the linked official text before serving.

What to do next

Send the termination notice by Certified Mail with return receipt ($17.99) and keep the receipt for your file. Landlords with several units save with the $29/month plan.

Send a termination notice

Sources

Checked: November 12, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.