Montana notice periods
A Montana landlord must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. There is no separate statutory notice period for rent increases; the month-to-month termination notice is the practical minimum. For nonpayment, the landlord must serve a 3-day notice to pay or quit before filing for eviction.
The Montana rules in detail
At least 30 days' written notice by either party, given at any time during the tenancy, for month-to-month tenancies; 7 days for week-to-week (MCA 70-24-441)
No specific statutory rent-increase notice period was confirmed for month-to-month tenancies; landlords generally give the 30-day notice used to change terms (UNVERIFIED as a statutory rule)
3 days. The tenant may cure by paying everything owed within the period; after that the landlord may file for eviction.
Serving the notice
- Notice must be in writing. Text messages and emails count only where the lease or statute allows electronic notice.
- The clock starts when the notice is delivered, not when it is written. Mailed notices usually add days; check the statute’s service rules.
- Termination notices generally take effect at the end of a rental period. Served mid-month, a 30-day notice ends the tenancy at the end of the next full month.
- A fixed-term lease ends on its own date; these periods apply to month-to-month tenancies and to tenancies that continued after a lease expired.
Source: MCA § 70-24-441; § 70-24-422(2).
Related Montana rules
- Late fees: No statutory cap or grace period; late charges are permitted if set in the rental agreement (MCA 70-25-201 expressly allows deducting 'late charges' from the deposit) and are subject only to general reasonableness/penalty principles. Late fee calculator.
- Security deposit: No statutory limit; returned Within 10 days after termination of the tenancy if no deductions for damage, cleaning or unpaid rent/utilities; within 30 days after termination if deductions are taken, together with a written itemized list of damages and charges. Deposit rules.
- All rules on one page: Montana landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Montana?
30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. At least 30 days' written notice by either party, given at any time during the tenancy, for month-to-month tenancies; 7 days for week-to-week (MCA 70-24-441)
How much notice does a tenant have to give in Montana?
30 days’ written notice on a month-to-month tenancy. A fixed-term lease ends on its own date unless it says otherwise.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Montana?
Montana has no specific statute. No specific statutory rent-increase notice period was confirmed for month-to-month tenancies; landlords generally give the 30-day notice used to change terms (UNVERIFIED as a statutory rule)
How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Montana?
3 days. The tenant can stop the eviction by paying the full amount within that time.
Does the notice have to end on the last day of the month?
In most states, yes: a termination notice on a periodic tenancy takes effect at the end of a rental period that is at least the required number of days after service. Serving on the 15th with a 30-day requirement typically ends the tenancy at the end of the following month, not 30 days later. The calculator shows both dates.