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Eviction timeline in Arizona

Arizona Eviction Timeline

Uncontested: 21–35 days  ·  Contested: 60–120 days  ·  Under A.R.S. § 33-1301 et seq. (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)

The Arizona eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.

Arizona Eviction Timeline at a Glance1

21–35 days Uncontested
60–120 days Contested
$210–$350 Court filing fee
$500–$3,000 Attorney fees (est.)
#4 of 51 Fastest nationally
Uncontested eviction (after filing) 21–35 days A.R.S. § 33-1301 et seq. (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)
Contested eviction (after filing) 60–120 days A.R.S. § 33-1301 et seq. (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)
Pre-filing notice: Nonpayment of rent 5 days ARS § 33-1368(B)
Pre-filing notice: Material noncompliance (curable) 10 days ARS § 33-1368(A)
Pre-filing notice: Material and irreparable breach 5 days ARS § 33-1368(B)
Pre-filing notice: End of month-to-month tenancy 30 days ARS § 33-1375
Court filing fee $210–$350 A.R.S. § 33-1301 et seq. (Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)

Step-by-step Arizona eviction process

Day-by-day, every stage.

Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filing Notice File Court Lockout
  1. 5–10d
    1
    Stage 1 · Gate

    Serve the notice

    Day 1

    5 days for nonpayment or irreparable breach, 10 days for curable noncompliance. Personal service preferred; certified mail or post-and-mail permitted with proof. Most Arizona cases that fail at the hearing failed at the notice stage.

  2. 1–3d
    2
    Stage 2 · Serve

    File the special detainer action

    Day 11

    Justice Court for cases under $10,000 in rent and damages; Superior Court for higher. Filing fee $35 to $50 by precinct. Sworn complaint, served notice, lease, and proof of service get attached.

  3. 3–6d
    3
    Stage 3 · File

    Summons and hearing scheduled

    Day 14

    The summons issues the day the complaint is filed and sets a hearing 3 to 6 days out. Arizona is unusually fast at this step; most states run 10 to 21 days.

  4. Same day
    4
    Stage 4 · Court

    The hearing

    Day 20

    Same-day judgment in most cases. Landlord presents the notice, proof of service, and lease. Tenant may raise defenses (habitability, retaliation, improper notice). Default judgment if the tenant does not appear. Hearings often run 15 minutes or less.

  5. 5–8d
    5
    Stage 5 · Lockout

    Writ of restitution and lockout

    Day 20

    5 days after judgment the landlord may request the writ of restitution (ARS § 33-1377(D)). Court issues the writ in 1 to 2 days. Constable serves it on the tenant with a 12 to 24 hour window to vacate. After that, the constable supervises the lockout.

  6. Day 28
    ✓
    Possession recovered
    Worst case · Day 28
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service. The Arizona timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court. Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline. Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Arizona and exposes the landlord to significant damages.

Other Guides for Arizona

← Arizona Eviction Risk OverviewEviction Costs: ArizonaEviction Process: ArizonaEviction Delay Tactics: ArizonaRent Control Guide: ArizonaTenant Screening: ArizonaTenant Protections: ArizonaTenant Rights: ArizonaNotice Templates: Arizona

Eviction Timeline in Other States

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Informational only, not legal advice. Consult a licensed Arizona attorney. Source attribution in the Sources band below.