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 Rhode Island, 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. For tenants, this notice is typically provided when they do not intend to renew their lease upon its expiration. For landlords, a notice to vacate can be issued for various reasons, such as the end of the lease term, a significant breach of the lease agreement by the tenant, or the tenant's violation of the law. The specific time frame for providing this notice can vary, commonly ranging from 30 to 90 days, depending on the terms of the lease and Rhode Island state law. Under Rhode Island General Laws § 34-18-37, landlords must provide at least a 30-day notice for month-to-month tenancies when they want the tenant to leave. For tenants, the lease agreement should be reviewed to determine the required notice period for indicating the intent to vacate. It's important to note that both state statutes and local ordinances can dictate the procedures and requirements for issuing a notice to vacate, so both tenants and landlords should be aware of these legal guidelines to ensure compliance.