A notice to vacate—also known as a notice of intent to vacate—is a written notice or letter from a tenant to the landlord or the landlord’s property management agent that the tenant will not be renewing the lease when it expires.

The terminology used in a state’s statutes, court opinions, and practices may vary from state to state, but a landlord can also give a tenant a notice to vacate—also known as a 30-day notice, 60-day notice, 90-day notice, 3-day notice, or notice to quit. The landlord may give the tenant notice to vacate due to the upcoming expiration of the lease term or due to a material (significant) breach of the lease agreement or the tenant’s violation of a law.

A tenant or landlord should read the lease agreement carefully before giving a notice to vacate or notice of intent to vacate to comply with the specific requirements of such a notice. In addition to the terms of the lease agreement, state and local laws may provide the circumstances and process for giving notice to vacate. These laws are usually located in a state’s statutes and in city and municipal codes and ordinances.

In Oklahoma, a notice to vacate is a formal communication from a tenant to a landlord, or vice versa, indicating the intention to end the rental agreement. When a tenant decides not to renew their lease, they must provide a written notice of intent to vacate, typically according to the time frame stipulated in the lease agreement, which is often 30 days before the lease expires. Conversely, a landlord may issue a notice to vacate to a tenant for various reasons, such as the end of a lease term, a significant breach of the lease terms, or a violation of law by the tenant. The specific time frame for these notices can vary, including 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day notices for lease terminations, or shorter periods like a 3-day notice for serious lease violations. Both tenants and landlords must adhere to the lease's provisions and Oklahoma state law, which outlines the procedures and requirements for issuing a notice to vacate. These regulations are found in Oklahoma's statutes and may also be supplemented by local city or municipal codes and ordinances.