North Carolina Eviction Notice for Unpaid Rent

What North Carolina law says

• NC Courts: a landlord can evict for unpaid rent if the landlord made a demand for rent and waited 10 days without payment.
• G.S. 42-3: where rent has a fixed payment date, the lease is forfeited if past-due rent is not paid within 10 days after a demand is made.
• NC Courts: in general, landlords are not required to send an eviction notice before filing an eviction.
• G.S. 42-26 requires a demand for surrender before removal but the text we read gives no day count for it.

Steps for a landlord

• Make a clear demand for the past-due rent.
• Record the date and method of the demand.
• Wait at least 10 days after the demand.
• If unpaid, file for summary ejectment and have the tenant served.

What to put in the notice

• The names of the tenants and the address of the rental
• The amount of rent owed and the rental period it covers
• The number of days the tenant has to pay or move out, and the date that period ends
• The date, how the notice was delivered, and who delivered it
• Your name and contact details, with your signature

Things to watch

• The pages we read do not say how the demand must be delivered or what it must contain.
• Check G.S. 42-3 and 42-26 or a local attorney before filing.
• The tenant must be served court papers by certified mail or sheriff per the court page.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.