State-Specific Residential Lease Agreement Requirements

Use this page with the Harner Legal Forms Residential Lease Agreement & Landlord Forms Kit. Start with the national lease, then use the row for the state where the rental property is located to identify terms, notices, disclosures, or addenda that may need to be changed or added.

Last reviewed: September 8, 2026

Important: This page provides a general statewide summary, not legal advice or a complete statement of landlord-tenant law. City and county ordinances may impose rent control, just-cause eviction, licensing, inspection, disclosure, fee, notice, or relocation requirements that are stricter than state law. Confirm current state and local requirements before offering the lease, collecting money, entering the property, serving a notice, withholding a deposit, or disposing of property left behind.

Do not use the notice periods below as a stand-alone eviction form

Eviction and termination notices often require exact statutory language, approved forms, specific service methods, and special rules for counting days. Court procedures can also change. Before serving a notice, use the current form and instructions required by the state and local court or obtain local legal advice. Never use self-help eviction measures such as changing locks, removing doors, shutting off utilities, or removing a tenant's belongings unless current law expressly permits the particular action.

Before signing the lease

  1. Identify the governing law. Use the law of the state where the rental property is located, regardless of where the landlord or tenant lives.
  2. Check local law. Search the city and county for rental registration, inspection, rent-control, just-cause, fee, notice, and required-rider rules.
  3. Complete every applicable addendum. Attach the federal lead-based-paint disclosure for most pre-1978 housing and any state or local disclosure identified below.
  4. Set deposits and fees conservatively. Do not exceed a cap, combine charges to evade a cap, or label a refundable charge “nonrefundable.” Do not charge pet rent, a pet fee, or a pet deposit for a service animal or other assistance animal.
  5. Document condition and delivery. Complete the move-in condition report, attach dated photographs when useful, and give every signing party a complete copy of the lease and all addenda.

What this page covers

This summary is designed for an ordinary, privately owned, long-term residential rental. It does not cover public or subsidized housing, manufactured-home parks, hotels or short-term rentals, dormitories, employer-provided housing, agricultural housing, rent-to-own transactions, or commercial property. Special rules may also apply to small owner-occupied properties, foreclosures, military tenants, domestic-violence survivors, and properties managed by licensed professionals.

Statewide ruleProperty-specific disclosureSpecial or local regimeProcedure varies
State Security Deposit Late Fees & Landlord Entry Nonpayment & Ending the Tenancy Disclosures, Addenda & Special Rules Key State Law
No matching state found.

Federal lead-based-paint rule: For most housing built before 1978, federal law requires disclosure of known lead-based-paint information and records, delivery of the EPA pamphlet, and a signed lead-warning statement before the tenant becomes obligated under the lease. See EPA Real Estate Disclosures About Potential Lead Hazards.