Montana Eviction Laws
Montana notice periods for ending a tenancy and starting an eviction, each as LeaseCraft read it in the statute at the official source, with its citation and read date (most recently ).
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Montana notice periods
Periods are as the statute states them: some are minimums, some apply unless the lease sets another. "Lease controls" means there is no statutory period; "No pre-suit notice" means none is required before filing.
| Situation | Notice period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid rent | 3 days |
MCA 70-24-422(2)
Read
|
| Lease violation | 14 days |
MCA 70-24-422(1)(a)–(d)
Read
|
| Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure | 3 days |
MCA 70-24-422(1)(e), (1)(f), (3), (4)
Read
|
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy | 30 days |
MCA 70-24-441(2)
Read
|
| Tenant staying after the lease ends | Lease controls |
MCA 70-24-429(1)
Read
|
| Ending a week-to-week tenancy | 7 days |
MCA 70-24-441(1)
Read
|
What the Montana statute says
Unpaid rent 3 days
- Rent unpaid when due; written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intention to terminate if rent is not paid within 3 days; landlord may terminate if tenant fails to pay within that period.
Lease violation 14 days
- Written notice specifying the acts/omissions constituting the noncompliance and that the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than the minimum number of days after receipt if the breach is not remedied; general noncompliance (not listed in (1)(b), (1)(c) or (1)(f)) = 14 days.
- Unauthorized pet = 3 days; unauthorized persons residing in the unit = 3 days (curable by removal).
Exceptions
- Repeat of substantially the same noncompliance within 6 months: 5 days' notice, no cure (see eviction_notice_unconditional).
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 3 days
- 3 days' written notice: tenant destroys, defaces, damages, impairs or removes any part of the premises in violation of 70-24-321(2) (subsection (3)); or tenant's conduct creates a reasonable potential that the premises may be damaged or destroyed or that neighboring tenants may be injured (subsection (4)); or noncompliance is verbal abuse of the landlord by a tenant ((1)(f)).
- 5 days' written notice specifying the noncompliance where substantially the same act or omission recurs within 6 months of a prior notice ((1)(e)).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 days
- Written notice at least 30 days prior to the termination date designated in the notice.
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 7 days
- Written notice at least 7 days before the termination date specified in the notice.
Just cause, delivery, form and local rules in Montana
How the notice may be delivered
Notice is given when the person has actual knowledge of it, when delivered in hand, when mailed with a certificate of mailing or by certified mail (service deemed made 3 days after mailing), or when transmitted to the e-mail address provided in the rental agreement (complete on a read receipt or a non-automatic reply) (MCA 70-24-108). Posting is not listed.
MCA 70-24-108 · read
Required form or contents
none found
- Notice must be written and specify the acts and omissions constituting the noncompliance and the termination date (70-24-422(1)); nonpayment notice must state nonpayment and the landlord's intention to terminate (70-24-422(2)).
MCA 70-24-422 · read
Statewide just-cause rule
No statewide just-cause requirement
- No statewide just-cause requirement; MCA 70-24-429 itself refers to a landlord who 'issues a lawful 30-day notice' to end a month-to-month tenancy.
MCA 70-24-441; 70-24-429 · read
For Montana landlords
- Find the period for your situation in the table above and count it from the day the notice is delivered.
- Deliver the notice the way Montana law allows and keep a record of how and when.
- A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.
For Montana tenants
- Compare the notice you received with the period for its situation in the table above and the date it reached you.
- A notice is not a court order. If a case is filed, the court papers say how and by when to respond.
- Local legal aid and tenant organizations can explain your options.
How an eviction generally proceeds
A general outline, not Montana law: the steps, their names and their deadlines differ by state and court. The Montana rules LeaseCraft has verified are the ones above.
- Written notice. The landlord gives the notice the situation calls for and waits out its period.
- Court filing. If the tenant has not paid, cured or left, the landlord files an eviction case in court.
- Hearing. Both sides can be heard; the tenant may raise defenses such as an improper notice.
- Judgment. The court decides who has the right to the property.
- Removal. If the court rules for the landlord, removal follows its order. A notice is not a court order and does not by itself remove a tenant.
Montana eviction questions
-
3 days, under MCA 70-24-422(2). Rent unpaid when due; written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intention to terminate if rent is not paid within 3 days; landlord may terminate if tenant fails to pay within that period. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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14 days, under MCA 70-24-422(1)(a)–(d). Written notice specifying the acts/omissions constituting the noncompliance and that the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than the minimum number of days after receipt if the breach is not remedied; general noncompliance (not listed in (1)(b), (1)(c) or (1)(f)) = 14 days. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
-
30 days, under MCA 70-24-441(2). Written notice at least 30 days prior to the termination date designated in the notice. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
-
Notice is given when the person has actual knowledge of it, when delivered in hand, when mailed with a certificate of mailing or by certified mail (service deemed made 3 days after mailing), or when transmitted to the e-mail address provided in the rental agreement (complete on a read receipt or a non-automatic reply) (MCA 70-24-108). Posting is not listed. Source: MCA 70-24-108. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
-
No statewide just-cause requirement, under MCA 70-24-441; 70-24-429. No statewide just-cause requirement; MCA 70-24-429 itself refers to a landlord who 'issues a lawful 30-day notice' to end a month-to-month tenancy. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
-
7 days, under MCA 70-24-441(1). Written notice at least 7 days before the termination date specified in the notice. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.
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Cities and counties can add rules. LeaseCraft is not a law firm and this is not legal advice.