Quick answer: To evict for unpaid rent in the District of Columbia, a housing provider must serve a notice of past due rent at least 10 days before filing, and only when at least $600 is owed. A lease violation needs 30 days to correct. Before December 31, 2025 the nonpayment notice was 30 days.
This DC eviction notice calculator applies D.C. Code 42-3505.01 as amended by the RENTAL Act. Choose the reason, enter the date the notice was served and, for unpaid rent, the amount owed: it shows the last day of the notice period and the earliest day the landlord can file. It does not say how long the court process takes: see the DC eviction timeline calculator.
DC eviction notice rules at a glance
| Rule | What the District of Columbia says |
|---|---|
| Unpaid rent | A notice of past due rent at least 10 days before filing, for at least $600 owed (D.C. Code 42-3505.01(a-1)) |
| How it is given | By certified mail or tracked delivery, and by hand delivery or posting on the front door (a-1)(3) |
| Lease violation | 30 days to correct after notice (42-3505.01(b)) |
| Illegal act found by a court | 30-day notice to vacate (42-3505.01(c)) |
| Dangerous crime or violence | 10-day notice to vacate and an expedited hearing within 20 days (42-3505.01(c)(2)) |
| Before filing | A valid rental registration or exemption and a current rental housing license (D.C. Code 16-1501) |
| Recent change | The RENTAL Act cut the nonpayment notice from 30 to 10 days on December 31, 2025 (D.C. Law 26-80) |
| Federal notice | A covered dwelling may need 30 days (15 U.S.C. 9058(c)) |
How does the DC eviction notice work?
- Unpaid rent. See the DC 10-day notice of past due rent.
- Lease violations and other grounds. See the DC 30-day notice to cure or vacate.
- What a landlord may not do. See DC self-help evictions and lockouts.
What does this eviction notice calculator check?
For unpaid rent it first checks the $600 threshold, then adds 10 calendar days to the date the notice was served; for a violation or a court-found illegal act it adds 30 days and treats the next day as the earliest filing day. A filing day that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or District holiday moves to the next business day. It does not check the wording of the notice, how it was served, whether the housing is licensed or whether a subsidy program or a rent-control rule adds protection. It also shows the 30-day federal date for a covered dwelling, which you should check with an attorney.
Related District of Columbia landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the District of Columbia security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the District of Columbia security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit and the District of Columbia eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own District of Columbia statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a DC landlord have to give for unpaid rent?
A notice of past due rent at least 10 days before filing, since December 31, 2025; before that it was 30 days.
Is there a minimum amount before a landlord can evict for nonpayment?
Yes. The tenant must owe at least $600 in rent.
How must the nonpayment notice be given?
By certified mail or a delivery service with tracking and return receipt, and by hand delivery to the unit or posting on the front door.
How much notice for a lease violation?
The tenant has 30 days after receiving the notice to correct the violation.
Can a tenant stay by paying the rent?
Yes. The tenant has the right to remain if the total balance of unpaid rent is paid in full.
Can a landlord change the locks after the notice period?
No. It must go through the court and a writ of restitution executed by the U.S. Marshals.