State Laws on Landlord's Access to Rental Property

State rules on when and how landlords may enter tenant rental units.

By , Attorney

When tenants sign a lease or rental agreement, they gain the right to exclusive use of the rental. This means that the landlord cannot enter the rental except as allowed by the terms of the lease or rental agreement and state law. Many states have laws requiring landlords to give tenants a minimum amount of notice (often 24 hours) before entering an occupied rental unit. Often, these laws also specify circumstances when a landlord may enter a tenant's rental unit (for example, to make repairs or show the unit to prospective renters). Here is a summary of state landlord access laws.

Note that even if a specific situation is not specifically mentioned in a statute, other law (such as that created by court decisions) might grant the landlord the right to enter. For example, in all states, even in the absence of a statute, landlords may enter to deal with a true emergency (an imminent and serious threat to health, safety, or property); and when the tenant has abandoned the property (left for good). Most states specify non-emergency circumstances that justify entry, and some explicitly include abandonment and "extended absence" (temporary but prolonged absence, which allows a landlord to enter when necessary to protect the property).

Also, always check to see if your lease or rental agreement includes a clause regarding the landlord's right to enter—many states allow landlords and tenants to make access agreements that differ from statutory law. If you have any questions about landlords' access laws in your state, contact a local tenants' rights group for help, or consult a local landlord-tenant attorney.

State Statutes Regarding Landlords' Access to Occupied Rental Units

State State Law Citation Amount of Notice Required in Nonemergency Situations Form of Notice To Deal With an Emergency To Inspect the Premises To Make Repairs, Alterations, or Improvements To Show Property to Prospective Tenants or Purchasers During Tenant's Extended Absence When Tenant Has Abandoned the Property
Alabama Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-303, 35-9A-423 Two days Not specified X X X X X X
Alaska Alaska Stat. §§ 34.03.140,34.03.230 24 hours Not specified X X X X X X
Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1343 Two days; notice period does not apply, and tenant's consent is assumed, if entry is pursuant to tenant's request for maintenance as prescribed in Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1341, paragraph 8 Not specified X X X X X
Arkansas Ark. Code § 18-17-602 No notice specified Not specified X X X
California Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1950.5, 1954 Reasonable notice; 24 hours is presumed reasonable (48 hours for initial move-out inspection) Written notice required, but oral notice is sufficient if the entry is to show the property to prospective or actual purchasers, but only if the landlord has given written notice within the previous 120 days, telling the tenant that the property is for sale and such oral notice might be given (24 hours' notice is presumed reasonable; landlord must leave a note when leaving). X X X X X
Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-1004 Notice statute relates only to access for inspecting for or treating a bed bug infestation. 48 hours' written or electronic notice required unless lease says otherwise. Not specified, unless the access is related to a possible or actual bed bug infestation, in which case notice must be electronic or written.
Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-16 to 47a-16a Reasonable notice Written or oral X X X X X X
Delaware Del. Code tit. 25, §§ 5113, 5507, 5509, 5510 48 hours Written, by giving a copy to an adult who resides at the rental unit or at the tenant's usual residence (if it's not the rental) or by mailing via registered or certified mail or first class mail as evidenced by a certificate of mailing postage-prepaid, addressed to the tenant at the rental. The notice can also be posted at the rental unit when it's combined with a return receipt of a certificate of mailing. X X X X X
D.C. D.C. Code § 42-3505.51 48 hours Written and electronic (including email and mobile text messaging), but if the tenant doesn't provide an acknowledgement of the electronic notice in writing, the landlord must provide a paper notice. X X X X X
Florida Fla. Stat. § 83.53 24 hours for repairs; landlord may enter "when necessary" in an emergency, when a tenant unreasonably withholds consent, or when the tenant is gone (without notifying the landlord) for a period of time equal to one-half the time for periodic rental payments. Not specified X X X X X
Georgia No statute
Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 521-53, 521-70(b) Two days Not specified X X X X X X
Idaho No statute
Illinois No statute
Indiana Ind. Code § 32-31-5-6 Reasonable notice Written or oral X X X X X
Iowa Iowa Code §§ 562A.19, 562A.28, 562A.29 24 hours Not specified X X X X X X
Kansas Kan. Stat. §§ 58-2557, 58-2565 Reasonable notice Not specified X X X X X X
Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 383.615, 383.670 Two days Not specified X X X X X X
Louisiana La. Civ. Code art. 2693 No notice specified Not specified X
Maine Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 6025 24 hours Not specified X X X X
Maryland No statute
Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B(1)(a) No notice specified Not specified X X X X
Michigan No statute
Minnesota Minn. Stat. § 504B.211 Reasonable notice Not specified X X X X
Mississippi Miss. Code § 89-7-49 When a landlord believes tenant has abandoned property, and the tenant owes rent, the landlord may request the constable of the county to go onto the premises to ascertain abandonment and leave a notice. Written X
Missouri No statute
Montana Mont. Code §§ 70-24-108, 70-24-312, 70-24-426 24 hours Email (if email is provided in the lease or rental agreement), hand delivery, mail with a certificate of mailing or by certified mail, or a post on the main entry door of the dwelling unit. X X X X X X
Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1423, 76-1432 24 hours Not specified X X X X X X
Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.330 24 hours Not specified X X X X X
New Hampshire N.H. Rev. Stat. § 540-A:3 Notice that is adequate under the circumstances; however, 48 hours' notice when entering after receiving notice of a bed bug infestation in an adjacent unit Not specified X X X X
New Jersey N.J. Stat. § 2A:39-1; N.J.A.C. 5:10-5.1 (for buildings with more than one unit) In buildings with fewer than three units: Landlords can enter only when they have the tenant's permission or a court order. In buildings with three or more units: Landlords have a right to access the unit to inspect it, make repairs or perform maintenance, and deal with emergencies, but must give reasonable notice (one day under ordinary circumstances) before entering. Not specified
New Mexico N.M. Stat. §§ 47-8-24, 47-8-34 24 hours Written X X X X X X
New York No statute
North Carolina No statute
North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.3 Reasonable notice Not specified X X X X X
Ohio Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.04(A)(8), 5321.05(B) 24 hours Not specified X X X X
Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 128 One day Not specified X X X X X
Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 90.322, 90.410 24 hours Not specified X X X X X X
Pennsylvania No statute
Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26 Two days Not specified X X X X X X
South Carolina S.C. Code §§ 27-40-530, 27-40-730 24 hours Not specified X X X X X
South Dakota No statute
Tennessee Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-403, 66-28-507 24 hours (applies only within the final 30 days of the rental agreement term, when landlord intends to show the premises to prospective renters and this right of access is set forth in the rental agreement) Not specified X X X X X X
Texas No statute
Utah Utah Code §§ 57-22-4, 57-22-5(2)(c) 24 hours, unless rental agreement specifies otherwise Not specified X
Vermont Vt. Stat. tit. 9, § 4460 48 hours Not specified X X X X
Virginia Va. Code §§ 55.1-1229, 55.1-1249 For routine maintenance only: 24 hours, but no notice needed if entry follows tenant's request for maintenance. Not specified X X X X X X
Washington Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.150 Two days; one day to show property to actual or prospective tenants or buyers Written, unless it is impracticable to do so X X X X X
West Virginia No statute
Wisconsin Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2); Wis. Adm. Code § ATCP 134.09(2) With 12 hours' advance notice, landlords may enter at reasonable times. Landlords and tenants may sign a separate "Nonstandard Rental Provision" agreement, in which they provide for entry for reasons not enumerated in this chart. Not specified X X X X X X
Wyoming No statute

To learn more about the rules limiting a landlord's access to rental property, see Nolo's book, Every Tenant's Legal Guide.

Updated: April 4, 2022

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