How Much Notice Does a Landlord Have to Give for Unpaid Rent in Minnesota? (14 Days)
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In Minnesota, a landlord must serve a 14-Day Notice before filing an eviction for unpaid rent. The statute is Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a. In short: 14 days from delivery or mailing; the notice must carry the total due, an accounting, the payee, and three mandated statements.
What Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a requires
- Notice period: 14 days.
- How the days are counted: The first day is excluded and the last day included; if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday it is omitted.
- Watch out: Minneapolis, St. Paul and other local governments may require a longer notice period; if the local period is longer than 14 days, use it.
- Watch out: The complaint must attach this notice; without it the court dismisses and expunges the case.
- Statute: Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a.
How the notice can be served in Minnesota
- Delivered personally to the tenant: Deliver the notice personally to the residential tenant.
- First-class mail to the leased premises: Mail by first class to the tenant at the address of the leased premises. The 14 days run from the mailing date, so date the notice and mail it the same day.
Record the method, the date, and who delivered it. The service date is where the 14-day count begins, and it is the first thing a judge checks.
When the period ends
A notice that miscounts the period, or is filed on before it has run, gets the case dismissed rather than delayed, and the landlord starts over with a fresh notice. Count from the service date under the Minnesota rule above, add any mailing days for the method used, and file only after the last day has passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the day I serve the notice count as day one in Minnesota?
A: The first day is excluded and the last day included; if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday it is omitted. Apply that rule to the service date, then add the mailing allowance if the method calls for one.
Q: Can a Minnesota landlord serve the notice by mail?
A: Yes. First-class mail to the leased premises. Keep the receipt.
Q: What if the tenant pays some of the rent during the 14 days?
A: Accepting partial payment can affect the notice; read the cautions above before deciding, and put any agreement in writing. When in doubt, a fresh notice is cheaper than a dismissed case.
Sources Checked
- Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 (the Minnesota statute cited above)
- Minn. Stat. § 504B.321, subd. 1a (the Minnesota notice statute)
- LeaseLenses Minnesota deposit and notice data set, last reviewed 2026-09-19; the same data powers the Minnesota document tools
- Minnesota landlord-tenant overview and the Minnesota deposit rules page
This page is general legal information for Minnesota, not legal advice. Statutes change; read the current text before relying on a deadline in court.
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