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/or 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, many statutes don't specifically state that a landlord may enter without notice in an emergency, but the right of landlords to enter in an emergency would most likely exist even in the absence of a law or explicit permission in a lease or rental agreement. 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 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 Alabama Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-303, 35-9A-423 Two days X X X X X Alaska Alaska Stat. §§ 34.03.140,34.03.230 24 hours X X X X X Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 33-1343 Two days (written or oral notice); 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 X X X X Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-602 No notice 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) X X X X Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 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. Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 47a-16 to 47a-16a Reasonable notice X X X X Delaware Del. Code Ann. tit. 25, §§ 5509, 5510 Two days X X X X D.C. D.C. Code Ann. § 42-3505.51 48 hours X X X X X Florida Fla. Stat. Ann. § 83.53 12 hours X X X X X Georgia No statute Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 521-53, 521-70(b) Two days X X X X X Idaho No statute Illinois No statute Indiana Ind. Code Ann. § 32-31-5-6 Reasonable notice X X X X Iowa Iowa Code Ann. §§ 562A.19, 562A.28, 562A.29 24 hours X X X X X Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-2557, 58-2565 Reasonable notice X X X X X Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 383.615, 383.670 Two days X X X X X Louisiana La. Civ. Code art. 2693 No notice specified X Maine Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 6025 24 hours X X X X Maryland No statute Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 186, § 15B(1)(a) No notice specified X X X X Michigan No statute Minnesota Minn. Stat. Ann. § 504B.211 Reasonable notice X X X X Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. § 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. Missouri No statute Montana Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-312, 70-24-426 24 hours X X X X X Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1423, 76-1432 One day X X X X X Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 118A.330 24 hours X X X X New Hampshire N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:3 Notice that is adequate under the circumstances X X X X New Jersey N.J.A.C. 5:10-5.1 One day, by custom; in buildings with three or more units, one day (by regulation) X X X X New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 47-8-24, 47-8-34 24 hours 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 X X X X Ohio Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 5321.04(A)(8), 5321.05(B) 24 hours X X X X Oklahoma Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 41, § 128 One day X X X X Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 90.322, 90.410 24 hours X X X X X Pennsylvania No statute Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-26 Two days X X X X X South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-530, 27-40-730 24 hours X X X X X South Dakota No statute Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 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) X X X X X Texas No statute Utah Utah Code Ann. §§ 57-22-4, 57-22-5(2)(c) 24 hours, unless rental agreement specifies otherwise X X Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, § 4460 48 hours X X X X Virginia Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1229, 55.1-1249 For routine maintenance only: 24 hours, but no notice needed if entry follows tenant’s request for maintenance. X X X X X Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 59.18.150 Two days; one day to show property to actual or prospective tenants or buyers X X X X West Virginia No statute Wisconsin Wis. Stat. Ann. § 704.05(2) With advance notice landlord may enter at reasonable times 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: December 15, 2019