What landlords must do with tenant belongings left behind after eviction or voluntary abandonment — notice periods, storage requirements, and sale rules for all 50 states + DC.
Sorted by notice period (fastest disposal first). Click any state for the full step-by-step guide including what counts as abandoned, when you can sell, and how to document the process to avoid liability.
| State | Notice Days | Storage Required | Sale Allowed | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 3 days | No | Yes | O.R.C. § 5321.15 |
| Idaho | 5 days | No | Yes | Idaho Code § 6-316 |
| District of Columbia | 7 days | Yes | No | D.C. Code § 42-3505.02 |
| Delaware | 7 days | No | Yes | 25 Del. C. § 5715 |
| Illinois | 7 days | No | Yes | 735 ILCS 5/9-318 |
| Maine | 7 days | No | Yes | 14 M.R.S. § 6013 |
| Massachusetts | 7 days | No | Yes | MGL c. 239, § 4 |
| Nebraska | 7 days | No | Yes | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1432 |
| New Hampshire | 7 days | No | Yes | RSA 540-A:3 |
| North Carolina | 7 days | No | Yes | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-25.9 |
| South Dakota | 7 days | No | Yes | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-26 |
| Arkansas | 10 days | No | Yes | A.C.A. § 18-16-108 |
| Florida | 10 days | No | Yes | Fla. Stat. § 715.10 |
| Georgia | 10 days | No | Yes | O.C.G.A. § 44-7-55 |
| Louisiana | 10 days | No | Yes | La. R.S. § 9:3258.2 |
| Missouri | 10 days | No | Yes | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.065 |
| Oklahoma | 10 days | No | Yes | Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 130 |
| Pennsylvania | 10 days | No | Yes | 68 P.S. § 250.505a |
| South Carolina | 10 days | No | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-730 |
| Alabama | 14 days | No | Yes | Ala. Code § 35-9A-423 |
| Arizona | 14 days | Yes | Yes | A.R.S. § 33-1370 |
| Iowa | 14 days | No | Yes | Iowa Code § 562A.30 |
| Kentucky | 14 days | No | Yes | KRS § 383.670 |
| Nevada | 14 days | Yes | Yes | NRS § 118A.460 |
| New Mexico | 14 days | No | Yes | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-34.1 |
| Wyoming | 14 days | No | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-21-1210 |
| Alaska | 15 days | No | Yes | AS § 34.03.260 |
| California | 15 days | Yes | Yes | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1980-1991 |
| Colorado | 15 days | No | Yes | C.R.S. § 38-20-116 |
| Connecticut | 15 days | No | No | C.G.S. § 47a-11b |
| Hawaii | 15 days | Yes | Yes | HRS § 521-56 |
| Montana | 15 days | No | Yes | Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-430 |
| Oregon | 15 days | Yes | Yes | ORS § 90.425 |
| Utah | 15 days | No | Yes | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-816 |
| Rhode Island | 20 days | No | Yes | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-40 |
| Virginia | 24 days | No | Yes | Code of Va. § 55.1-1249 |
| Michigan | 28 days | No | Yes | MCL § 554.362 |
| Minnesota | 28 days | No | Yes | Minn. Stat. § 504B.365 |
| North Dakota | 28 days | No | Yes | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-30.1 |
| Kansas | 30 days | No | Yes | K.S.A. § 58-2565 |
| Mississippi | 30 days | No | Yes | Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-13 |
| New Jersey | 30 days | No | Yes | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:18-72 |
| New York | 30 days | No | Yes | N.Y. RPAPL § 749 |
| Tennessee | 30 days | No | Yes | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-405 |
| Texas | 30 days | No | Yes | Tex. Prop. Code § 54.045 |
| West Virginia | 30 days | No | Yes | W. Va. Code § 37-6-6 |
| Wisconsin | 30 days | No | Yes | Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5) |
| Maryland | 45 days | No | Yes | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-401(d) |
| Washington | 45 days | No | Yes | RCW 59.18.230 |
| Vermont | 60 days | No | Yes | 9 V.S.A. § 4462 |
| Indiana | 90 days | No | Yes | Ind. Code § 32-31-4-2 |
Landlords who mishandle abandoned tenant property face serious legal exposure. In most states, improperly disposing of or selling a tenant's belongings before the notice period expires can constitute conversion — giving the tenant grounds to sue for the full fair market value of the items, plus attorney fees, and in some states punitive damages.
The safest approach is always to document everything, send proper written notice, wait the full statutory period, and keep records for at least three years.
Statutory citations current as of 2025. Laws change — verify with your state's current statutes before acting. Last updated April 29, 2026. For informational purposes only — not legal advice.
