Kansas eviction laws
Notices, deadlines, court and tenant rights in Kansas — in plain English.
Learn › Kansas
Overview
- The court case
- Eviction (forcible detainer) action
- Court
- Kansas District Court (limited actions / small claims docket) in the county where the property is located
- Main laws
- Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq. (notices: 58-2564, 58-2570); Forcible detainer, K.S.A. 61-3801 et seq.
Just-cause protection
No statewide law
Kansas has no just-cause rule. A periodic tenancy can be ended without a reason with proper notice. State law bars local rent control. (K.S.A. 58-2570; K.S.A. 12-16,120)
Notices before filing, by reason
What a landlord must serve before filing — and what a tenant should expect to receive.
Unpaid rent — Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
The landlord gives a written 3-day notice that rent is unpaid and the tenancy will end if not paid. If the tenant pays in full within the 3 days, the tenancy continues.
Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
- Notice period
- 3 days
- Counting
- The 3 days are three consecutive 24-hour periods starting when the notice is delivered (weekends and holidays count). If the notice is mailed, add 2 more days from the date of mailing. Wait until the period fully runs before filing.
- Tenant can fix it?
- Yes, within the notice period
- Must include
- Tenant name(s) and property address
- Amount of rent unpaid
- Statement that the rental agreement will terminate if the rent is not paid within 3 days after the notice
- Landlord or agent signature and date
- How to serve
- Hand it to the tenant in person; Leave it with an adult who lives there (and mail a copy if required); Post it on the door; First-class mail; Certified mail (return receipt). Give a written copy to the tenant; or leave it with any person over 12 at the premises; or post it conspicuously on the premises; or mail it to the premises address. If mailed, add 2 days before the deadline runs.
- Law
- K.S.A. 58-2564(b)
- Kansas also requires a 3-day notice to leave the premises before filing (K.S.A. 61-3803). Most landlords combine it with the 3-day rent notice ("pay within 3 days or leave").
- Double-check with the court: K.S.A. 58-2507/58-2508 (general, non-residential statutes) mention 10-day and 3-day notices by tenancy length; for residential units the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act's 3-day notice controls.
- Accepting rent with knowledge of the default can waive the right to terminate (K.S.A. 58-2566).
The tenant broke the lease or rules — 14/30-Day Notice of Noncompliance (Notice to Remedy or Terminate)
For a material lease violation, the landlord gives written notice describing the breach, saying the lease ends in at least 30 days unless the tenant fixes it within 14 days. If the same or similar breach happens again later, the landlord can give a 30-day notice with no chance to fix.
14/30-Day Notice of Noncompliance (Notice to Remedy or Terminate)
- Notice period
- 30 days
- Counting
- Count calendar days from receipt. The tenant has 14 days to fix; termination date must be at least 30 days after receipt. If mailed, add 2 days.
- Tenant can fix it?
- Yes, within the notice period
- Must include
- Tenant name(s) and property address
- The specific acts or omissions that are the breach
- Statement that the rental agreement will terminate on a date at least 30 days after receipt unless the breach is remedied within 14 days
- Landlord signature and date
- How to serve
- Hand it to the tenant in person; Leave it with an adult who lives there (and mail a copy if required); Post it on the door; First-class mail; Certified mail (return receipt). Give a written copy to the tenant; or leave it with any person over 12 at the premises; or post it conspicuously on the premises; or mail it to the premises address. If mailed, add 2 days before the deadline runs.
- Law
- K.S.A. 58-2564(a)
- Before filing, K.S.A. 61-3803 also requires a 3-day notice to leave the premises; it may be combined with this notice or served after the termination date.
- For a second similar breach after the cure period, a 30-day termination notice with no cure right may be given.
The lease ended and the tenant stayed — Three-Day Notice to Leave the Premises
When a fixed-term lease ends on its date, no statutory notice is required. Before filing a forcible detainer, the landlord must give a written 3-day notice to leave the premises.
Three-Day Notice to Leave the Premises
- Notice period
- 3 days
- Counting
- Three consecutive 24-hour periods starting when the notice is delivered, posted or mailed; weekends and holidays count. If mailed, add 2 more days.
- Tenant can fix it?
- No
- Must include
- Tenant name(s) and property address
- Statement that the tenancy has ended and the tenant must leave within 3 days
- Landlord signature and date
- How to serve
- Hand it to the tenant in person; Leave it with an adult who lives there (and mail a copy if required); Post it on the door; First-class mail; Certified mail (return receipt). Give a written copy to the tenant; or leave it with any person over 12 at the premises; or post it conspicuously on the premises; or mail it to the premises address. If mailed, add 2 days before the deadline runs.
- Law
- K.S.A. 61-3803
- The 3-day notice to leave may be combined with the notice required by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (K.S.A. 61-3803).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no fault) — Notice of Termination of Month-to-Month Tenancy
A month-to-month tenancy can be ended by written notice at least 30 days before a rent due date; week-to-week needs 7 days.
Notice of Termination of Month-to-Month Tenancy
- Notice period
- 30 days (week-to-week: 7 days, month-to-month: 30 days)
- Counting
- The notice must be given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named as the end (7 days for week-to-week). If mailed, add 2 days.
- Tenant can fix it?
- No
- Must include
- Tenant name(s) and property address
- Statement that the tenancy ends and the termination date (at least 30 days away, on a periodic rental date)
- Landlord signature and date
- How to serve
- Hand it to the tenant in person; Leave it with an adult who lives there (and mail a copy if required); Post it on the door; First-class mail; Certified mail (return receipt). Give a written copy to the tenant; or leave it with any person over 12 at the premises; or post it conspicuously on the premises; or mail it to the premises address. If mailed, add 2 days before the deadline runs.
- Law
- K.S.A. 58-2570
- Before filing, K.S.A. 61-3803 also requires a 3-day notice to leave the premises; it can be combined with the termination notice.
Illegal activity, violence or serious damage — no notice required
Kansas has no separate short notice for criminal activity. Landlords use the 14/30-day noncompliance notice. Where a tenant's conduct creates a serious risk, the lease may allow faster termination.
- A 3-day notice to leave (K.S.A. 61-3803) is required before any forcible detainer filing.
- Double-check with the court: Kansas statute has no clear-and-present-danger notice; use the violation (14/30-day) notice unless the lease provides otherwise, and consult the court on emergency relief.
How a tenant responds
The summons sets an appearance/answer date, usually 3 to 14 days after the summons is issued. The tenant may file a written answer by that date or appear in person and answer orally. Missing the date can lead to a default judgment.
Deadline: at the hearing (no fixed written-answer deadline) · K.S.A. 61-3805, 61-3806
City and local rules
- Kansas preempts local rent control. Wichita, Kansas City KS and Lawrence have no just-cause or extra notice rules. Double-check with the court: Lawrence has local anti-discrimination (source of income) rules.
Official court forms
Landlords
- Pre-Eviction Notice of Termination & Notice to Leave
- Petition (Eviction) — Filing an Eviction
- Petition — Nonpayment of Rent
Tenants
- Responding to an Eviction (answer forms)
Sources
- K.S.A. 58-2564 (Kansas Revisor)
- K.S.A. 61-3803 notice to leave (Kansas Revisor)
- K.S.A. 58-2564 (Justia)
- Kansas Judicial Branch - Self-help: Landlord/Tenant
Checked 2026-09. General information, not legal advice; laws change and courts differ. We strive for accuracy but don’t guarantee it.