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Lease clauses / Automatic renewal clauses

Automatic Lease Renewal Clause: How to Avoid Getting Locked In

An automatic renewal clause extends your lease for another full term — sometimes another year — unless you give notice by a deadline that can be 60 or 90 days before the lease ends. Miss it and you may owe rent for months you planned to live elsewhere. Some states and cities limit these clauses or require the landlord to remind you before the deadline, but many do not — so check yours and ask for the clause to be removed or turned into month-to-month.

What it looks like in a lease

  • “This lease will automatically renew for successive 12-month terms unless either party gives written notice at least 60 days before expiration.”
  • “If Tenant fails to give timely notice, Tenant will be responsible for rent for the full renewal term.”

Why it's a red flag

  • The notice deadline is often far longer than the state's month-to-month notice period below.
  • Renewal for a full year (rather than month-to-month) turns a missed date into a big bill.
  • Renewal may come with a built-in rent increase you never separately agreed to.

What to ask your landlord

  • Can the lease convert to month-to-month at the end instead of renewing for a full term?
  • Can the notice deadline be shortened to 30 days, and will you send a written reminder?

State-by-state rules

Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy — useful as a benchmark when a lease asks for a much longer renewal notice. Each row links to the statute. Data as of 2026-10-18.

  • Arizona
    Tenant notice
    30 days (written, before the periodic rental date)
    Landlord notice
    30 days (written, before the periodic rental date)

    Source: A.R.S. § 33-1375

  • California
    Tenant notice
    30 days
    Landlord notice
    30 days if tenancy under 1 year; 60 days if 1 year or more. After 12 months most tenancies also need 'just cause' (Tenant Protection Act).

    Source: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1, 1946.2

  • Colorado
    Tenant notice
    Depends on how long the tenancy has run: 21 days (1 to <6 months), 28 days (6 to <12 months), 91 days (1 year or more); same periods apply to landlord notices.
    Landlord notice
    Same: 21 / 28 / 91 days by length of tenancy (written notice).

    Source: C.R.S. § 13-40-107

  • Florida
    Tenant notice
    30 days' written notice before the end of a monthly period
    Landlord notice
    30 days' written notice before the end of a monthly period

    Source: Fla. Stat. § 83.57

  • Georgia
    Tenant notice
    30 days
    Landlord notice
    60 days

    Source: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7

  • Illinois
    Tenant notice
    30 days
    Landlord notice
    30 days

    Source: 735 ILCS 5/9-207

  • Kentucky
    Tenant notice
    30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas)
    Landlord notice
    30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas); elsewhere, one month's written notice to end a tenancy at will (KRS 383.195)

    Source: KRS 383.695(2), 383.195

  • Louisiana
    Tenant notice
    Written notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month.
    Landlord notice
    Written notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month.

    Source: La. Civ. Code arts. 2728(2), 2729

  • Maryland
    Tenant notice
    30 days (oral or written notice before end of the tenancy; in Baltimore City written notice).
    Landlord notice
    60 days written notice (month-to-month or lease term over 1 week); 90 days for year-to-year; shorter 30/60 days only in a foreclosure situation.

    Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c)

  • Minnesota
    Tenant notice
    Written notice at least as long as the interval between rent due dates (or three months, whichever is less)
    Landlord notice
    Written notice at least as long as the interval between rent due dates (or three months, whichever is less)

    Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.135

  • Missouri
    Tenant notice
    Written notice; tenancy ends on a rent-paying date at least one month after the landlord receives it
    Landlord notice
    Written notice; tenancy ends on a rent-paying date at least one month after the tenant receives it

    Source: RSMo § 441.060.4

  • Nevada
    Tenant notice
    30 days written notice (7 days for week-to-week).
    Landlord notice
    30 days written notice (7 days for week-to-week).

    Source: NRS 40.251

  • New York
    Tenant notice
    1 month
    Landlord notice
    30 days if tenancy under 1 year; 60 days for 1-2 years; 90 days for 2 years or more.

    Source: N.Y. Real Prop. Law §§ 226-c, 232-b

  • North Carolina
    Tenant notice
    7 days
    Landlord notice
    7 days

    Source: N.C.G.S. § 42-14

  • Ohio
    Tenant notice
    30 days
    Landlord notice
    30 days

    Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17

  • Oregon
    Tenant notice
    30 days written notice.
    Landlord notice
    30 days notice (no cause needed) only during the first year; after the first year only for cause, or 90 days notice plus one month's rent payment for a qualifying reason (demolition, repairs, landlord/family occupancy, buyer occupancy); the payment exemption applies to landlords with 4 or fewer units.

    Source: ORS 90.427

  • Pennsylvania
    Tenant notice
    Not verified yet
    Landlord notice
    Notice to quit: 15 days (lease of 1 year or less / indefinite) or 30 days (over 1 year) for eviction; tenants can waive this in the lease.

    Source: 68 P.S. § 250.501

  • South Carolina
    Tenant notice
    30 days' written notice before the termination date (7 days for week-to-week)
    Landlord notice
    30 days' written notice before the termination date (7 days for week-to-week)

    Source: S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-770(a)-(b)

  • Tennessee
    Tenant notice
    30 days written notice before the periodic rental date (10 days for week-to-week).
    Landlord notice
    30 days written notice before the periodic rental date (10 days for week-to-week).

    Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512

  • Texas
    Tenant notice
    1 month (unless the lease says otherwise)
    Landlord notice
    1 month (unless the lease says otherwise)

    Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001

  • Utah
    Tenant notice
    Not verified yet
    Landlord notice
    Notice served at least 15 calendar days before the end of the month or rental period.

    Source: Utah Code § 78B-6-802(1)(b)

  • Virginia
    Tenant notice
    30 days (written, before the next rent due date), unless the rental agreement provides a different period
    Landlord notice
    30 days (written, before the next rent due date), unless the rental agreement provides a different period; 60 days for certain mass non-renewals in multifamily premises

    Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A)-(B)

  • Washington
    Tenant notice
    20 days' written notice before the end of a rental period
    Landlord notice
    Only for a 'cause' listed in RCW 59.18.650, with the notice that cause requires (a 6–12 month initial lease that rolls to month-to-month may be ended without cause at the end of the initial term with 60 days' written notice).

    Source: RCW 59.18.200, 59.18.650

StateTenant noticeLandlord noticeSource
Arizona30 days (written, before the periodic rental date)30 days (written, before the periodic rental date)A.R.S. § 33-1375
California30 days30 days if tenancy under 1 year; 60 days if 1 year or more. After 12 months most tenancies also need 'just cause' (Tenant Protection Act).Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1, 1946.2
ColoradoDepends on how long the tenancy has run: 21 days (1 to <6 months), 28 days (6 to <12 months), 91 days (1 year or more); same periods apply to landlord notices.Same: 21 / 28 / 91 days by length of tenancy (written notice).C.R.S. § 13-40-107
Florida30 days' written notice before the end of a monthly period30 days' written notice before the end of a monthly periodFla. Stat. § 83.57
Georgia30 days60 daysO.C.G.A. § 44-7-7
Illinois30 days30 days735 ILCS 5/9-207
Kentucky30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas)30 days' written notice before the periodic rental date (URLTA areas); elsewhere, one month's written notice to end a tenancy at will (KRS 383.195)KRS 383.695(2), 383.195
LouisianaWritten notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month.Written notice at least 10 calendar days before the end of the month.La. Civ. Code arts. 2728(2), 2729
Maryland30 days (oral or written notice before end of the tenancy; in Baltimore City written notice).60 days written notice (month-to-month or lease term over 1 week); 90 days for year-to-year; shorter 30/60 days only in a foreclosure situation.Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c)
MinnesotaWritten notice at least as long as the interval between rent due dates (or three months, whichever is less)Written notice at least as long as the interval between rent due dates (or three months, whichever is less)Minn. Stat. § 504B.135
MissouriWritten notice; tenancy ends on a rent-paying date at least one month after the landlord receives itWritten notice; tenancy ends on a rent-paying date at least one month after the tenant receives itRSMo § 441.060.4
Nevada30 days written notice (7 days for week-to-week).30 days written notice (7 days for week-to-week).NRS 40.251
New York1 month30 days if tenancy under 1 year; 60 days for 1-2 years; 90 days for 2 years or more.N.Y. Real Prop. Law §§ 226-c, 232-b
North Carolina7 days7 daysN.C.G.S. § 42-14
Ohio30 days30 daysOhio Rev. Code § 5321.17
Oregon30 days written notice.30 days notice (no cause needed) only during the first year; after the first year only for cause, or 90 days notice plus one month's rent payment for a qualifying reason (demolition, repairs, landlord/family occupancy, buyer occupancy); the payment exemption applies to landlords with 4 or fewer units.ORS 90.427
PennsylvaniaNot verified yetNotice to quit: 15 days (lease of 1 year or less / indefinite) or 30 days (over 1 year) for eviction; tenants can waive this in the lease.68 P.S. § 250.501
South Carolina30 days' written notice before the termination date (7 days for week-to-week)30 days' written notice before the termination date (7 days for week-to-week)S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-770(a)-(b)
Tennessee30 days written notice before the periodic rental date (10 days for week-to-week).30 days written notice before the periodic rental date (10 days for week-to-week).Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512
Texas1 month (unless the lease says otherwise)1 month (unless the lease says otherwise)Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001
UtahNot verified yetNotice served at least 15 calendar days before the end of the month or rental period.Utah Code § 78B-6-802(1)(b)
Virginia30 days (written, before the next rent due date), unless the rental agreement provides a different period30 days (written, before the next rent due date), unless the rental agreement provides a different period; 60 days for certain mass non-renewals in multifamily premisesVa. Code § 55.1-1253(A)-(B)
Washington20 days' written notice before the end of a rental periodOnly for a 'cause' listed in RCW 59.18.650, with the notice that cause requires (a 6–12 month initial lease that rolls to month-to-month may be ended without cause at the end of the initial term with 60 days' written notice).RCW 59.18.200, 59.18.650

Cities and counties can add stricter rules (e.g. Chicago, New York City). Other states: coming soon.

Does your lease have this clause?

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Other clauses to check

  • Non-refundable security deposits
  • Late fees
  • Landlord entry without notice
  • “Tenant pays all repairs” clauses
  • Rent increase clauses
  • Waivers of tenant rights
  • Move-out cleaning & carpet fees

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change — verify with the linked source or a licensed attorney.

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