Ohio Eviction Laws

Ohio 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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Ohio 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.

SituationNotice periodSource
Unpaid rent 3 calendar days R.C. 1923.04(A); R.C. 1923.02(A)(2), (A)(9)
Read
Lease violation 30 calendar days R.C. 5321.11; R.C. 1923.02(A)(8); R.C. 1923.04
Read
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 3 calendar days R.C. 5321.17(C); R.C. 1923.02(A)(6), (A)(9); R.C. 1923.04(A)
Read
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 calendar days R.C. 5321.17(B); R.C. 1923.04(B)
Read
Tenant staying after the lease ends 3 calendar days R.C. 1923.02(A)(1); R.C. 1923.04(A)
Read
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 7 calendar days R.C. 5321.17(A)
Read

What the Ohio statute says

Unpaid rent 3 calendar days
  • Before filing a forcible entry and detainer action the landlord must notify the tenant in writing 'three or more days before beginning the action' to leave the premises (R.C. 1923.04(A)); there is no statutory right to cure by paying within the three days.
  • The notice must contain the mandatory statutory language: 'You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you. If you are in doubt regarding your legal rights and obligations as a tenant, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance.'
  • Nonpayment grounds: R.C. 1923.02(A)(2) (oral tenancy, default in rent) and (A)(9) (breach of written rental agreement).

Exceptions

  • Federally subsidized/covered housing: federal 30-day CARES Act notice and HUD lease notice rules (not researched).
Lease violation 30 calendar days
  • For a tenant's breach of statutory obligations under R.C. 5321.05 materially affecting health and safety, the landlord gives written notice specifying the act or omission and stating that the agreement 'will terminate upon a date specified in the notice, not less than thirty days after receipt'; if the tenant fails to remedy, the agreement terminates as stated (R.C. 5321.11; ground R.C. 1923.02(A)(8)).
  • After termination under 5321.11, the 3-day notice to leave under 1923.04 is still required before filing.

Exceptions

  • Breach of a written rental agreement term (R.C. 1923.02(A)(9)): no statutory cure period — only the 3-day notice to leave under 1923.04 (lease may provide a cure).
  • Drug-related activity (5321.05(A)(9)): 3-day termination notice under 5321.17(C), no cure.
Ending the tenancy without a chance to cure 3 calendar days
  • Drug offense on or near the premises (violation of R.C. Chapter 2925 or 3719 by tenant or household member): landlord with actual knowledge or reasonable cause to believe may terminate on notice under R.C. 5321.17(C) and file if the tenant fails to vacate within three days (R.C. 1923.02(A)(6)(a)(i)); no cure, and no conviction required.
  • Any breach of a written rental agreement (1923.02(A)(9)) and holding over (A)(1) likewise proceed on the 3-day notice to leave under 1923.04 with no statutory cure.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy 30 calendar days
  • Landlord or tenant may terminate or fail to renew a month-to-month tenancy by notice given 'at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date' specified in the notice (R.C. 5321.17(B)).
  • The 5321.17 notice satisfies the 1923.04 pre-suit notice requirement (1923.04(B)), but the mandatory 'You are being asked to leave' language must still appear for the notice to serve as the 1923.04 notice.

Exceptions

  • Does not apply to terminations for breach of the rental agreement or statutory duties, other than the drug-offense duty (5321.17(D)).
Tenant staying after the lease ends 3 calendar days
  • Tenants 'holding over their terms' (R.C. 1923.02(A)(1)) are subject to the same 3-day written notice to leave under R.C. 1923.04 before suit; no separate holdover period.
Ending a week-to-week tenancy 7 calendar days
  • Week-to-week tenancy: notice given 'at least seven days prior to the termination date specified' in the notice (R.C. 5321.17(A)).

Just cause, delivery, form and local rules in Ohio

How the notice may be delivered

Notice is served by certified mail, return receipt requested; by handing a written copy to the defendant in person; or by leaving it at the defendant's usual place of abode or at the premises from which the defendant is to be evicted (R.C. 1923.04(A)).

R.C. 1923.04(A), (C) · read

Required form or contents

Mandatory contents: every pre-suit notice must include, in conspicuous language, 'You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you. If you are in doubt regarding your legal rights and obligations as a tenant, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance.' (R.C. 1923.04(A)); no state form — https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1923.04

R.C. 1923.04(A) · read

Statewide just-cause rule

No statewide just-cause requirement

  • No statewide just-cause requirement; periodic tenancies may be terminated or not renewed by either party on 5321.17 notice, and 1923.02(A)(1) allows eviction of tenants holding over their terms.

R.C. 5321.17; R.C. 1923.02(A)(1) · read

For Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio law: the steps, their names and their deadlines differ by state and court. The Ohio rules LeaseCraft has verified are the ones above.

  1. Written notice. The landlord gives the notice the situation calls for and waits out its period.
  2. Court filing. If the tenant has not paid, cured or left, the landlord files an eviction case in court.
  3. Hearing. Both sides can be heard; the tenant may raise defenses such as an improper notice.
  4. Judgment. The court decides who has the right to the property.
  5. 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.

Ohio eviction questions

  • 3 calendar days, under R.C. 1923.04(A); R.C. 1923.02(A)(2), (A)(9). Before filing a forcible entry and detainer action the landlord must notify the tenant in writing 'three or more days before beginning the action' to leave the premises (R.C. 1923.04(A)); there is no statutory right to cure by paying within the three days. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 30 calendar days, under R.C. 5321.11; R.C. 1923.02(A)(8); R.C. 1923.04. For a tenant's breach of statutory obligations under R.C. 5321.05 materially affecting health and safety, the landlord gives written notice specifying the act or omission and stating that the agreement 'will terminate upon a date specified in the notice, not less than thirty days after receipt'; if the tenant fails to remedy, the agreement terminates as stated (R.C. 5321.11; ground R.C. 1923.02(A)(8)). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 30 calendar days, under R.C. 5321.17(B); R.C. 1923.04(B). Landlord or tenant may terminate or fail to renew a month-to-month tenancy by notice given 'at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date' specified in the notice (R.C. 5321.17(B)). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • Notice is served by certified mail, return receipt requested; by handing a written copy to the defendant in person; or by leaving it at the defendant's usual place of abode or at the premises from which the defendant is to be evicted (R.C. 1923.04(A)). Source: R.C. 1923.04(A), (C). LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • No statewide just-cause requirement, under R.C. 5321.17; R.C. 1923.02(A)(1). No statewide just-cause requirement; periodic tenancies may be terminated or not renewed by either party on 5321.17 notice, and 1923.02(A)(1) allows eviction of tenants holding over their terms. LeaseCraft read this at the official source on 2026-09-27.

  • 7 calendar days, under R.C. 5321.17(A). Week-to-week tenancy: notice given 'at least seven days prior to the termination date specified' in the notice (R.C. 5321.17(A)). 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.