Can my landlord enter without notice?

Only in a genuine emergency (fire, flood, burst pipe) or if you consent at the time. For routine entry — repairs, inspections, showings — most states require advance notice. California requires 24 hours' written notice and Florida 12 hours; New York, Texas, and Illinois rely on a 'reasonable notice' standard or your lease (Chicago requires 2 days).

How much notice does a landlord have to give to enter?

It varies by state. California: 24 hours, written, during business hours. Florida: 12 hours, between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. New York, Texas, and Illinois have no fixed statewide hours rule, so your lease (or a local ordinance like Chicago's 2-day rule) controls — with reasonable advance notice expected.

What if my state has no entry-notice law?

Then your lease controls, and courts still expect entry to be reasonable. Get the notice requirement written into your lease, ask for notice in writing, and keep a log of entries. Repeated entry without reasonable notice can breach your right to quiet enjoyment.

What counts as an emergency entry?

A genuine, urgent threat to the property or safety — fire, flooding, a gas leak, or a reasonable belief someone inside needs help. A routine repair that simply wasn't scheduled is not an emergency, and a landlord who repeatedly claims 'emergency' to skip notice may be harassing the tenant.

Can my landlord enter without notice?

Only in a genuine emergency (fire, flood, burst pipe) or if you consent at the time. For routine entry — repairs, inspections, showings — most states require advance notice. California requires 24 hours' written notice and Florida 12 hours; New York, Texas, and Illinois rely on a 'reasonable notice' standard or your lease (Chicago requires 2 days).

How much notice does a landlord have to give to enter?

It varies by state. California: 24 hours, written, during business hours. Florida: 12 hours, between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. New York, Texas, and Illinois have no fixed statewide hours rule, so your lease (or a local ordinance like Chicago's 2-day rule) controls — with reasonable advance notice expected.

What if my state has no entry-notice law?

Then your lease controls, and courts still expect entry to be reasonable. Get the notice requirement written into your lease, ask for notice in writing, and keep a log of entries. Repeated entry without reasonable notice can breach your right to quiet enjoyment.

What counts as an emergency entry?

A genuine, urgent threat to the property or safety — fire, flooding, a gas leak, or a reasonable belief someone inside needs help. A routine repair that simply wasn't scheduled is not an emergency, and a landlord who repeatedly claims 'emergency' to skip notice may be harassing the tenant.

Landlord Entry Rules by State

Can your landlord just show up? Some states set a strict notice-and-hours rule; others leave it to your lease. Here's what California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois require before a landlord can enter.

By the LeasePlain Editorial Team · Checked against state entry statutes & local ordinances per our editorial standards·Last reviewed October 2026

State	Notice required	Permitted hours
California	24 hours, written	Normal business hours
Florida	12 hours	7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
New York	Reasonable notice (no fixed statute)	Reasonable hours
Texas	Set by the lease	Per lease
Illinois	Reasonable (Chicago: 2 days)	Reasonable hours
Washington	2 days (1 day to show)	Reasonable hours
Georgia	Set by the lease	Per lease
Pennsylvania	Reasonable (no fixed statute)	Reasonable hours

Notes by state

California: 24 hours' written notice for repairs, inspections, or showings; entry during normal business hours. No notice for a genuine emergency or if you consent. (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954)
Florida: At least 12 hours' notice for repairs, and entry only between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Entry must be for a reasonable purpose. (Fla. Stat. § 83.53)
New York: No statewide hours rule. Courts expect reasonable advance notice (commonly treated as ~24 hours), and your lease or a local rule (e.g., NYC) may set specifics. (Lease + case law; NYC rules)
Texas: Texas has no general statutory notice period for entry — the lease governs. If your lease is silent, insist on reasonable advance notice in writing. (Tex. Prop. Code (no general entry statute))
Illinois: No statewide entry statute. Chicago's RLTO requires at least 2 days' notice and entry at reasonable times; elsewhere the lease governs. (State: none general; Chicago RLTO)
Washington: At least 2 days' notice to enter for repairs or inspections, and 1 day to show the unit to prospective tenants or buyers. Emergencies are the exception. (RCW 59.18.150)
Georgia: Georgia has no statutory entry-notice period, so the lease governs. Ask for reasonable advance notice in writing. (No general entry statute)
Pennsylvania: No statute sets a notice period; courts apply a reasonable-notice standard, so the lease controls. (Lease + case law)

The big picture

US entry rules split into two camps. California and Florida set a clear statutory rule (24 hours / 12 hours and specific hours). New York, Texas, and Illinois have no fixed statewide rule, so the lease controls — with courts expecting reasonable notice, and cities like Chicago adding a 2-day requirement. Everywhere, a genuine emergency is the exception.

Last reviewed: October 2026. Entry rules vary by state and city — confirm with the cited law, your lease, or a local ordinance before relying on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related state comparisons

General information, not legal advice. Entry rules vary by state, city, and lease. Confirm with the cited law, your lease, or a local ordinance.