Eviction Notice Deadline Calculator

How eviction notice deadlines are calculated

Eviction notices (sometimes called “notices to quit,” “pay or quit notices,” or “move-out notices”) almost always come with a deadline. That deadline is the last day the tenant has to do what the notice requires, such as paying rent, fixing a violation, or moving out. This calculator helps you estimate that deadline based on the service date, the length of the notice period, whether you count calendar days or business days, and whether extra time is added for mailed notices.

The goal of this page is to give both landlords and tenants a clear, neutral overview of how these dates are usually counted. Laws are different in every location, so the information here is general and not specific to any state, province, or country.

Basic timeline concepts

Most eviction timelines involve the same core pieces of information:

• Service date: the date the notice is legally considered delivered to the tenant (for example, when it is handed to the tenant, posted according to local rules, or deemed delivered by mail).
• Notice period: the number of days the tenant has to comply (for example, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, or longer).
• Type of days counted: calendar days (every day of the week) or business days (usually Monday through Friday, excluding weekends).
• Service method adjustment: some laws add extra days when a notice is mailed, to account for delivery time.

In many places, you do not count the service date itself as day 1. Instead, the clock starts the next full day after service. However, this can vary by jurisdiction, so always confirm with local rules or a legal professional.

Common formulas for notice deadlines

This calculator uses simple, jurisdiction-neutral math to estimate an eviction notice deadline. In general terms, the calculation works like this:

1. Start with the service date.
2. Apply any service method adjustment (for example, add 5 days if mailed).
3. Add the notice period in days.
4. Adjust for weekends if you are counting business days instead of calendar days.

In a simplified mathematical form, ignoring weekends and any legal nuances, you could think of the estimated deadline as:

When you choose to count business days only, the calculator effectively skips Saturdays and Sundays while adding days. Local laws may also require skipping certain public holidays, but this tool does not automatically detect holidays.

Calendar days vs. business days

The difference between calendar days and business days can significantly shift the deadline:

• Calendar days: Every day is counted, including weekends and holidays.
• Business days: Only standard working days (typically Monday through Friday) are counted. Weekends are skipped. This calculator treats business days in that simple way and does not adjust for holidays.

Some jurisdictions always use calendar days unless a statute says otherwise. Others require business-day counting for short notices like “3-day pay or quit” notices. Because rules differ, the calculator lets you choose which approach to use, but you should verify which one your local law requires.

How service method affects timelines

The method a landlord uses to serve the notice can change when the notice is considered delivered and, in turn, when the countdown begins.

• Personal service or posting: If a notice is handed directly to the tenant or posted in compliance with local rules, the service date is usually the same day.
• Mailed service: Many laws treat a mailed notice as delivered a few days after it is put in the mail. A common example is adding 3–5 extra days for mailing, but the exact number depends on the specific law that applies.

In this calculator, choosing a mailed option simply adds an extra block of days (for example, 5 days) to the calculation. This is a general estimation and may not match the exact rule for your jurisdiction.

Worked example: estimating a pay-or-quit deadline

Imagine a landlord serves a tenant with a “pay or quit” notice for overdue rent. The key facts are:

• Notice served (personal delivery) on: July 1
• Notice period: 7 days
• Counting method: calendar days
• Service method: personal/posting (no extra mail days)

Using the simple approach where the day after service is day 1, the calendar would look like this:

• July 2 – Day 1
• July 3 – Day 2
• July 4 – Day 3
• July 5 – Day 4
• July 6 – Day 5
• July 7 – Day 6
• July 8 – Day 7 (estimated deadline)

The calculator will give an estimated deadline of July 8 when you enter July 1 as the service date, 7 as the notice period, and select calendar days.

Now change the example slightly:

• Notice served (mailed) on: July 1
• Notice period: 7 days
• Counting method: business days
• Service method: mailed (+5 days)

In this scenario, the tool first adds 5 mail days, then counts 7 business days. Weekends are skipped, but holidays are not automatically removed. The final date will be later than July 8 because both the mail adjustment and the switch to business days extend the timeline.

Interpreting your calculated deadline

When you run the calculator, it returns a single estimated deadline date. Interpreting that date depends on your role and your local law:

For tenants

• Treat the result as the last day you may be able to fully comply before the landlord is typically allowed to file an eviction case (for example, by paying all past-due rent, correcting a violation, or moving out).
• If possible, act before the estimated deadline rather than on the last day, especially if you are mailing a payment or relying on bank processing times.
• Keep records of everything you do before the deadline (receipts, bank confirmations, emails, text messages, photos of repairs, etc.). These may be important if there is later a disagreement about whether you complied on time.

For landlords

• Use the result as a rough earliest date when you might file an eviction case, assuming your jurisdiction allows filing the next day after the notice period expires.
• Do not file before the legal notice period has fully run, and double-check local statutes or court rules about how to count days and whether holidays or weekends extend the deadline.
• Maintain clear proof of service, including how and when the notice was delivered, in case the tenant challenges your timing in court.

For both landlords and tenants, the calculated date is an estimate only. Courts and local laws control the real deadline, and they may interpret the statutes differently than this generic calculator.

Comparison: calendar days, business days, and mailed service

The table below compares how different settings in the calculator can change an estimated deadline, using a hypothetical 7-day notice period starting from the same service date. The numbers are for illustration only and may not reflect your local law.

Key assumptions and limitations of this calculator

This is an informational tool, not a legal authority. It relies on several important assumptions and has built-in limitations you should understand before relying on any result:

• Jurisdiction-neutral rules: The calculator does not apply the specific landlord-tenant laws of any state, province, or country. It uses generic counting rules that may not match your local statutes or court practices.
• Holidays are not included: Public holidays, court closures, and emergency orders are not automatically taken into account. Many real-world laws extend deadlines when they fall on holidays or when courts are closed.
• Simple weekend logic: When you select business days, the tool skips only Saturdays and Sundays. Any special local rule about partial days, evenings, or specific industries is not applied.
• Approximate mail adjustment: The “mailed (+5 days)” option is a general placeholder. Actual mail adjustment rules may add fewer days, more days, or use a different method for determining when a mailed notice is deemed delivered.
• Service date interpretation: The calculator assumes the service date you enter is already the correct legal date of service. It does not determine whether your service method complied with local requirements.
• No guarantee of court acceptance: Courts may calculate deadlines differently or may interpret statutes in ways that change the effective deadline. The calculator cannot predict or control what a judge will decide in a particular case.
• No attorney-client relationship: Using this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the information is not tailored to your specific situation.

Because of these limitations, you should treat every result as a starting point for further checking, not as a final answer.

Practical tips for landlords and tenants

Landlord tips

• Confirm the required notice period and counting rules in your jurisdiction before serving any notice.
• Use a reliable method of service and document it carefully (for example, certificates of mailing, affidavits of service, or time-stamped photos of posting).
• Allow a margin of safety: even if the calculator gives a particular deadline, consider waiting an extra day or two before filing, when possible, to reduce the risk of dismissal for a timing error.

Tenant tips

• Read the notice carefully to understand what you must do (pay, fix a problem, or move out) and by what date the landlord claims you must comply.
• Use the calculator to check whether the claimed date seems reasonable, but do not assume the notice is automatically correct or incorrect.
• Gather written proof of any payments, repairs, or communications, and keep copies of the notice itself in case you need to defend yourself in court or negotiate with your landlord.

Frequently asked questions

Does the notice period include the day I received the notice?

Many jurisdictions start counting on the day after service, not the day you received the notice. However, some laws may specify a different rule. This calculator assumes the first full day after service is day 1, but you should confirm with local law or an attorney.

What if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday?

Some laws extend a deadline that lands on a weekend or legal holiday to the next business day. This calculator only skips weekends if you choose business-day counting and does not automatically move deadlines that fall on holidays. Always check your local rules for how weekends and holidays affect deadlines.

Can my landlord file an eviction before the deadline?

In many places, a landlord may not file an eviction case based on that notice until the full notice period has expired. Filing too early can sometimes lead to the case being dismissed. This tool cannot tell you whether your landlord followed all local rules; that depends on the law in your area and the judge’s decision.

What if I act before the deadline but my landlord says I was late?

If you paid or fixed the problem before you reasonably believed the deadline passed, gather documentation (receipts, bank records, emails, texts, and witnesses). In some situations, a court may decide whether your actions were timely based on the actual law and the evidence, not on any estimate from this calculator.

Does this tool replace legal advice?

No. This calculator is for general educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Eviction law is complex and highly local. Always consult a qualified attorney, legal aid office, or tenant/landlord counseling service in your jurisdiction for advice about your specific situation.

Important disclaimer

Disclaimer: This eviction notice deadline calculator is an informational tool only. It uses general, simplified rules and may not reflect current law in your state, province, or country. Results are estimates, not guarantees. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship or should be relied on as legal advice. For guidance about your rights and obligations, speak with a licensed attorney or a trusted local legal aid organization.