North Carolina Eviction Notice
A North Carolina eviction notice is a legal document used by landlords to inform tenants of their intent to terminate a lease agreement due to specific violations or noncompliance with rental terms. This notice serves as the first step in the eviction process, ensuring that tenants are given the appropriate time to remedy the situation or vacate the premises in accordance with state law.

North Carolina Eviction Notice
Types of North Carolina Eviction Notice Forms
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10-Day Notice to Quit:
- Grounds: Nonpayment of rent.
- Details: Issued the day after rent is due, requiring tenants to pay all past due rent or vacate within ten (10) calendar days.
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Notice to Comply or Vacate:
- Grounds: Lease violations (e.g., minor property damage, failure to maintain a safe property).
- Details: The landlord may allow the tenant an opportunity to correct the issue. If the tenant fails to comply, they must vacate by the specified termination date.
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7-Day Notice to Vacate:
- Grounds: Termination of month-to-month leases, expired leases, or situations without a written lease.
- Details: The tenant must receive notice at least seven (7) days before the termination date.
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2-Day Notice to Quit:
- Grounds: Termination of weekly periodic tenancy.
- Details: Tenants must vacate within two (2) days.
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30-Day Notice to Quit:
- Grounds: Termination of yearly periodic tenancy.
- Details: Tenants must vacate within thirty (30) days.
Legal Grounds for Eviction
- Nonpayment of Rent: Requires a 10-day notice.
- Lease Violations: May require a notice to comply or vacate, depending on whether the landlord allows for corrective action.
- Termination of Tenancy: Varies based on the type of lease (weekly, monthly, yearly).
How to Write an Eviction Notice
To ensure legal compliance, an eviction notice should include the following elements:
- Tenant’s full name and address.
- Specific lease violation or balance due.
- Date of termination.
- Landlord’s printed name, signature, and address of record.
- Date and method of notice delivery, along with the printed name and signature of the person delivering the notice.
How to Serve an Eviction Notice
North Carolina law allows for several methods of serving an eviction notice:
- Hand Delivery: To the tenant directly.
- Delivery to a Suitable Person: To someone of suitable age and discretion at the tenant’s dwelling.
- Registered or Certified Mail: With return receipt requested.
Mailed notices extend the notice period by three (3) calendar days.
Eviction Process Steps
- Serve an Eviction Notice: Provide the tenant with the appropriate notice based on the grounds for eviction.
- File for Eviction: If the tenant does not comply, file a Summary Ejectment with the local court.
- Attend Court Hearing: Both landlord and tenant must appear in court on the scheduled date.
- Await Judgment: If the court rules in favor of the landlord, a Judgment for Possession will be issued, allowing the landlord to seek a Writ of Possession if the tenant does not vacate.
Important Legal Citations
- General Statutes of North Carolina, Chapter 42: Governs landlord-tenant relationships and eviction processes.
- § 42-3: Nonpayment of rent requires a 10-day notice.
- § 42-14: Monthly periodic tenancy requires a 7-day notice.
- § 42-46: No notice required for certain lease violations.
Statutes
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-3 – Term forfeited for nonpayment of rent
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14 – Notice to quit in certain tenancies
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-25.9 – Remedies
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-26 – Tenant holding over may be dispossessed in certain cases
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-33 – Rent and costs tendered by tenant
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-36.2 – Notice to tenant of execution of writ for possession of property; storage of evicted tenant’s personal property
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-37.1 – Defense of retaliatory eviction
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-42 – Landlord to provide fit premises
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-42.2 – Victim protection – nondiscrimination
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-42.3 – Victim protection – change locks
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-43 – Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-44 – General remedies, penalties, and limitations
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-45.1 – Early termination of rental agreement by victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a) – Authorized fees, costs, and expenses
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-50 – Deposits from the tenant
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-51 – Permitted uses of the deposit
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52 – Landlord’s obligations
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-53 – Pet Deposits
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-19 – Seats and sessions of court
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-210 – Small claim action defined
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 25-3-506 – Collection of processing fee for returned checks
FAQs
In North Carolina, there are several types of eviction notices, including the 10-Day Notice to Quit for non-payment of rent, the 7-Day Notice to Vacate for month-to-month leases, and the Notice to Comply or Vacate for lease violations. Each notice has specific requirements and timelines based on the reason for eviction.
In North Carolina, an eviction notice can be served through hand delivery to the tenant, hand delivery to a suitable person at the tenant’s residence, or by registered or certified mail. It’s important to document the delivery method and date to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
If a tenant does not respond to an eviction notice within the specified time frame, the landlord can file a Summary Ejectment lawsuit in the local court to initiate formal eviction proceedings. The tenant will then be summoned to court, where both parties can present their case.
The notice periods in North Carolina vary by the type of eviction: 10 days for non-payment of rent, 7 days for month-to-month leases, 2 days for week-to-week leases, and 30 days for year-to-year leases. These periods are mandated by North Carolina General Statutes.
In North Carolina, a landlord cannot evict a tenant without providing the appropriate eviction notice, except in cases of illegal activity where no notice is required. Proper notice is essential to comply with state laws and to initiate the eviction process legally.
A North Carolina eviction notice should include the tenant’s full name and address, the reason for eviction, the amount of rent due if applicable, the date of termination, and the landlord’s contact information. It’s also important to note the delivery method and date.
A Summary Ejectment is a legal process in North Carolina that landlords file to initiate eviction proceedings after a tenant fails to comply with an eviction notice. This process is typically handled in small claims or district court, depending on the amount owed.
The eviction process in North Carolina can vary in duration, typically taking from 1 to 3 months after the notice period, depending on court schedules and tenant responses. If a tenant does not vacate after the notice period, the landlord may proceed with filing for Summary Ejectment.