3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit

A general notice for any state, or ready wording for California, Texas and Florida. No sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.

Saved automatically in this browser, so your details are here next time.

State

Where is the rental?

Paper

Tenant and premises

Tenant name(s)

Every adult tenant named on the lease.

Address of the premises

County

Rent due

One line for each rent payment that is late: the date it was due and the amount.

Up to 12 lines

Rent only. A California 3-day notice cannot include late fees, utilities, deposits or other charges, and only rent that became due within the past year. A wrong amount can make the notice invalid.

Rent only. Leave out late fees and other charges. A wrong amount can make the notice invalid.

Dates

Date of the notice

Days to pay or move out

Date you will deliver it

Pay “on or before” (printed on the notice)

Left empty, it is worked out from the delivery date. Change it if your county court’s holidays differ.

Landlord or property manager

Name

Address (opt.)

Phone (opt.)

Email (opt.)

Florida’s notice must give the landlord’s name, address and phone number.

Where and how to pay

California requires the name, telephone number and address of the person to pay, and how the rent can be paid.

Pay to (name)

Address

Phone

Ways to pay

In person

By mail to the address above Deposit to a bank account

Electronic transfer already set up with the tenant

How to pay (optional)

Signature (optional)

Title under your name

Sign here, or print it and sign in ink.

Proof of serviceRecord of delivery

Print it at the foot of the page, for the person who delivers the notice to fill in on your copy.

The ways California law allows. Tick the one used, here or on the page, or leave them empty and tick by hand.

Required on a California notice

You are responsible for the notice you give. These checks help, but they are not legal advice.

Wording: change the title, paragraphs and labels

Each box shows the words printed now. You can change any of them; boxes marked “set by … law” hold wording the law requires, so change them only if you know why. An empty box goes back to the standard wording.

Finished? Print or save your notice

Keep a signed copy with the completed proof of servicerecord of delivery. Want to remind the tenant first? Send a late rent notice.

Layout

Preview

Click any text on the page to edit it.

Notice: Generated via SnapPaperwork. For genuine notices only. Demanding rent that is not owed, or giving a false notice, can be illegal.

Want to remind the tenant first? Late Rent Notice Generator

Got the rent? Rent Receipt Generator

How to make a 3-day notice in 3 steps

Choose the state and add the rent that is late

Any state (a general notice you adapt), California, Texas or Florida. Add each late rent payment with the date it was due.
Check the list, then print

The checklist shows any detail the law requires that is still missing. Print two copies or save a PDF, and sign them.
Deliver it the right way and keep proof

Deliver the notice by a method your state allows, fill in the proof of service or record of delivery on your own copy, and do not file an eviction case until the deadline has passed.

California: what the law requires

Notice: 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit.
Time to pay: Three days after the notice is served, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays.
What it can demand: Rent only, and only rent that became due within the past year. No late fees, utilities, deposits or other charges.
What else it must say: The amount due, and the name, telephone number and address of the person to pay. Then how to pay: in person (with the usual days and hours someone is there), into an account at a bank within five miles of the rental (with the account number and the bank’s name and street address), or by an electronic transfer already set up.
How to serve it: Hand it to the tenant. If they are away from home and work, leave it with a person of suitable age and discretion there and mail a copy. If no one can be found, post it in a conspicuous place on the property, give a copy to a person living there if there is one, and mail a copy.
Also know: A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving a notice. Some cities add rules: in the City of Los Angeles, for example, eviction notices must be filed with the Los Angeles Housing Department within 3 business days of service, and a nonpayment eviction needs the tenant to owe more than one month’s Fair Market Rent.

Texas: what the law requires

Notice: Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate.
When to use it: Since January 1, 2026 (Senate Bill 38), a landlord evicting only for unpaid rent must use a notice to pay rent or vacate if the tenant was not late before the month of the notice. If the tenant was late before, the landlord may use either this notice or a notice to vacate.
Time to pay: Three days, unless the written lease sets a shorter or longer period. Weekends and holidays count, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or state or federal holiday, the period runs to the next day that is not.
Wording: Texas law does not set the wording. The notice here states the rent due and the choice to pay or vacate within the period, in plain words.
How to deliver it: By mail (first class, registered or certified mail, or a delivery service), by delivery to the inside of the premises in a conspicuous place, by hand to a tenant aged 16 or older, or, if agreed in writing, by e-mail or other electronic means. These rules do not apply if the tenant actually receives the notice.

Texas Property Code chapter 24, including §§ 24.0042 and 24.005 (Texas Legislature)

Florida: what the law requires

Notice: 3-day notice to pay rent or deliver possession.
Time to pay: Three days after delivery, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. The law says legal holidays here are court-observed holidays only, and they differ from one judicial circuit to another.
Wording: The statute gives the wording. This tool uses it word for word, with the amount, the address including the county, the pay-by date (“on or before…”) and the landlord’s name, address and phone number.
How to deliver it: By mail, by delivering a true copy, by e-mail if the tenant agreed to e-mail notices (section 83.505), or, if the tenant is absent from the premises, by leaving a copy at the residence.
Part payment: If you accept part of the rent after delivering the notice, you must give a receipt with the date, the amount received and the agreed date and balance due; or put the money in the court registry when you file; or deliver a new 3-day notice for the new amount.

Florida Statutes § 83.56 (The Florida Senate)

Federal 30-day notice rules

The CARES Act applies in every state. If the property has a federally backed mortgage (for example Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA or USDA) or takes part in a covered federal housing program, such as housing vouchers, the landlord may not require the tenant to vacate until 30 days after a notice to vacate (15 U.S.C. § 9058(c)). A 3-day notice alone may not be enough for those properties.

Texas law handles this in its own way: the landlord may file after the Texas notice, but the writ of possession cannot be served until the federal notice period has passed (Texas Property Code § 24.005(c-1)).

Public housing and properties with project-based rental assistance also have a federal 30-day notice rule for nonpayment of rent (HUD final rule, December 2024), with dates to comply that depend on the program.

Other states

Most states give the tenant more than three days. The general notice lets you set the days and the wording, but several states require the court’s or the state’s own form. A few examples, with the official source:

Illinois: a 5-day landlord’s demand, with wording set by statute. 735 ILCS 5/9-209 (Illinois General Assembly)
Michigan: the court’s own form, a 7-day Demand for Possession for nonpayment of rent. Form DC 100a (Michigan Courts)
Maryland: the court’s own form, a 10-day notice of intent to file. Form DC-CV-115 (Maryland Judiciary)
Massachusetts: a 14-day notice to quit, which must come with the state’s own accompanying form. Notice to quit forms (Mass.gov)
Washington: a 14-day notice to pay or vacate, with wording set by statute. RCW 59.18.057 (Washington State Legislature)

For any other state, start with your state court’s self-help website. Not ready for a formal notice yet? A late rent notice reminds the tenant in writing, in any state.

After the notice

If the tenant pays the full amount within the time allowed, the notice has done its job: give a receipt, and the tenancy goes on. If not, the next step is an eviction case in court. Only a court can order a tenant to leave. Do not cut off utilities, change the locks or remove belongings to force a tenant out: state laws forbid or strictly limit this.

If you are the tenant

A notice is not an eviction. Read it carefully: check the amount and the dates, and keep a copy. If you can pay, do it within the time allowed and keep proof. If you cannot, get help early:

California: the courts’ self-help guide explains the notice and how to respond. California Courts self-help: eviction (tenants)
Texas: free legal information and help from legal aid organizations. TexasLawHelp.org
Florida: free legal information and help from legal aid organizations. FloridaLawHelp.org
Anywhere in the US: dial 211 for local help, including emergency rental assistance. 211 (United Way)

Checked in October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Landlord and tenant laws change, and cities can add their own rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is this 3-day notice generator free?

Yes. It is free to use, needs no account or sign-up, and never adds a watermark or a SnapPaperwork logo to your notice.

Which states does it work for?

Any state. Choose “Any state” for a general notice and set the number of days and the wording your state requires. California, Texas and Florida have ready wording. Some states require the court’s own form instead.

Can I include late fees in the notice?

Not in California: a 3-day notice may demand rent only. In Texas and Florida the notice is also about the rent, so this tool lists rent only. Asking for an amount that is not rent, or that is wrong, can make the notice invalid.

How are the three days counted?

It depends on the state. In California and Florida, Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays do not count. In Texas every day counts, but a period ending on a weekend or holiday runs to the next working day. For Florida, the tool fills in the pay-by date for you; you can change it.

Can I change the wording?

Yes, every word can be changed, on the page or in the “Wording” section. Sentences that a state’s law sets are marked, and the form warns you if you change one. You are responsible for the notice you give.

How do I deliver the notice?

Only in a way your state allows. California: in person, or by leaving it with a suitable person or posting it, and also mailing a copy. Texas: by mail, inside the home in a conspicuous place, by hand to a tenant 16 or older, or by e-mail if agreed in writing. Florida: by mail, by hand, by e-mail if agreed, or by leaving it at the home if the tenant is away. Fill in the proof of service or record of delivery on your copy.

What if the tenant pays only part of the rent?

It depends on the state and on what you agree. In Florida, the statute says what to do if you accept part of the rent after the notice: give a receipt with the balance, put the money in the court registry when you file, or deliver a new notice. In any state, give a receipt for every payment.

Does the CARES Act still apply?

Its 30-day notice rule has no end date in the statute. If the property has a federally backed mortgage or takes part in a covered federal housing program, the tenant cannot be required to move out until 30 days after a notice to vacate.

Is this legal advice?

No. The wording follows each state’s law as checked in October 2026, with links to the official sources, but laws and local rules change and every case is different. For anything you are unsure about, ask a local attorney or landlord association.

Are my details uploaded or stored on your servers?

No. Everything you type stays in your browser and is never sent to me. The form is saved on your own device so it is there if you come back. On a shared computer, press “Clear Form” when you are done.