50-State Surveys › Residential Lease Execution Formalities by State
Residential Lease Execution Formalities by State
When must an ordinary residential lease be written, whose signature is required, are witnesses or notarization required, may it be signed electronically, must the tenant receive a copy, and when does recording affect the lease?
50 of 51 jurisdictions verified
every entry statute-checked, oldest 2026-07-29
What this survey covers
A residential lease can be binding between landlord and tenant without being effective against a later purchaser or creditor. It can also be valid for a short term even though a longer term must be written and signed. This survey keeps those questions separate.
The table follows the lease from agreement through signature, electronic execution, copy delivery, later changes, and possible recording. It covers the formal steps that make the instrument enforceable or protect it against third persons. It does not duplicate the separate surveys for deposits, rent, late fees, entry, repairs, eviction, or termination notices.
How to read the table
Start with the writing threshold and signer columns. A state's statute may turn on a term longer than one year, a term of one year or longer, or whether the agreement can be fully performed within one year after it is made. “Party to be charged” means the person against whom enforcement is sought, which is not always the same as requiring both signatures on every copy.
Read witness and notary rules separately from recording. Some conveyance statutes contain a lease-specific witness exception, while an acknowledgment may still be needed to place a lease or memorandum in the land records. The electronic-execution column then asks whether an electronic record and signature can satisfy those state- law form requirements and what consent or retention conditions apply.
Finish with copy delivery, changes, recording, and consequences. A landlord's duty to give the tenant a copy is different from the statute of frauds. Recording ordinarily addresses priority or notice to third persons, not whether landlord and tenant made a contract between themselves.
Why the dimensions stay separate
California requires a lease longer than one year to be written and subscribed by the party to be charged or that party's agent; an agent's authority for that longer lease must also be written. California separately requires the owner or agent to provide the tenant a copy within 15 days after the tenant executes it, and an oral agreement triggers a written landlord-and-payment-information statement within 15 days. Cal. Civil Code § 1624 and Cal. Civil Code § 1962.
Florida uses two different one-year lines. An interest or term longer than one year must be in a signed writing, but the statute expressly says that no subscribing witnesses are required for a real-property lease. A lease for one year or longer is not effective against creditors or later purchasers for value without notice unless recorded. Fla. Stat. §§ 689.01 and 695.01.
Louisiana shows why validity and third-person effect cannot share one column. Civil Code article 2681 says a lease may be oral or written, while an immovable lease does not affect third persons until recordation. R.S. 9:2742 permits a signed notice of lease instead of recording the complete lease. La. Civil Code art. 2681 and La. R.S. 9:2742. Effective August 1, 2026, Act 240 keeps the oral-or-written rule and moves the immovable third-person rule into new article 2681.1. 2026 La. Acts No. 240.
These current statutes show independent variation in the writing cutoff, whose signature is enough, agent authority, lease-specific witness exceptions, copy duties, recordable alternatives, recording thresholds, and the legal effect of a missing formality. Those are the nine dimensions frozen for the survey.
Patterns across the finished table
The most common writing line is a lease longer than one year, often paired with a separate rule for any agreement that cannot be performed within one year after it is made. The table also shows important departures. Indiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania use three-year lease lines in at least part of their execution scheme. Louisiana generally permits an oral immovable lease, while Maryland, Massachusetts, and Vermont give an unwritten land interest at-will effect rather than the requested fixed term.
An executed-copy duty is a minority rule. Some states instead require written owner, manager, service-agent, or payment information, and others state no general copy or basic-information duty at all. Electronic execution is broadly available, but the common statutory conditions are party agreement and a record the recipient can retain; Vermont adds detailed consumer-consent and access-demonstration requirements.
Recording is the widest source of threshold variation. Some states begin at one year, others at two, three, five, or seven years, and some apply no numeric lease cutoff. The usual consequence is priority or notice against a later purchaser, creditor, or other third person—not automatic invalidity between the original landlord and tenant. Several states permit a statutory memorandum or notice instead of the complete lease.
Renewal rules also resist a universal form clause. Wyoming is the clearest outlier: accepted rent after an expired term creates only a tenancy by sufferance, and renewal requires an express written contract signed by both parties. Other states allow holdover conversion, automatic renewal subject to special notice, or the ordinary statute-of-frauds test. Reading the renewal and recording columns separately is therefore essential.
Get this answered for your state
This survey compares every state side by side. Ezel applies your state's law to your specific situation and answers with citations to the statutes.
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| State | Governing law and scope | Writing threshold | Required signatures and authority | Witness, acknowledgment, and notary | Electronic execution | Required copy or written statement | Renewal, modification, and term form | Recording and third-party effect | Effect of noncompliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama verified 2026-07-30 | Ala. Code §§ 8-9-2, 8-1A-2 to -8, 35-4-6, 35-4-20 to -24, 35-4-51, 35-4-90, 35-9A-141, 35-9A-162, and 35-9A-202; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Oral rental agreements recognized; writing required for lease term >1 year and for any agreement not performable within 1 year after making (§§ 35-9A-141(13), 8-9-2(1), (5)) |
Writing subscribed by party to be charged or an authorized signer whose authority is written; both signatures are not universally required. Performance can cure missing signature/delivery but only for 1 year (§§ 8-9-2, 35-9A-162; Anselmo) |
No witness/notary for ordinary lease ≤20 years. To preserve term beyond 20 years, use conveyance acknowledgment or attestation and record within 1 year; 1 witness normally, 2 for specified nonsigning cases; acknowledgment substitutes (§§ 35-4-6, -20, -23, -24; Anselmo) |
Allowed only when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Consumer information needs affirmative e-consent, access demonstration, disclosures, and retainability; primary-residence default/eviction/cure notices are excluded (§§ 8-1A-2, -3, -5, -7, -8) |
No general executed-copy deadline stated. At/before tenancy, landlord or leasing agent must give written manager and owner/service-agent names and business addresses and keep them current (§ 35-9A-202) |
No separate residential change form; a renewal, extension, or material modification that falls within § 8-9-2 must meet its signed-writing rule. Performance cure cannot carry the claimed term beyond 1 year (§ 35-9A-162) |
Lawfully executed real-estate-interest instrument may be recorded and filing gives notice; nonrecording leaves conveyance inoperative against purchasers for value, mortgagees, and judgment creditors without notice. A >20-year lease/memorandum must be recorded within 1 year to preserve excess (§§ 35-4-6, -51, -90) |
Covered agreement is void without required writing; performance cure gives only 1-year effect. Unrecorded >20-year term is void only for excess; other nonrecording affects protected third persons. Missing owner/manager disclosure creates statutory agency (§§ 8-9-2, 35-4-6, 35-4-90, 35-9A-162, -202) |
| Alaska verified 2026-07-30 | AS 09.25.010; 34.03.020, .030, .060, .080; 09.80.010, .020, .040, .050, .080; 40.17.030, .080, .110, .120, .140, .900; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Lease >1 year and agreement not performable within 1 year from making need signed writing/memorandum. Unstated term is weekly for weekly rent, otherwise month-to-month (§§ 09.25.010, 34.03.020) |
Party charged subscribes; real-property agent authority is written. Creating/transferring party or agent under written authority also subscribes. Missing signature/delivery may be cured by specified rent or possession conduct, capped at 1 year (§§ 09.25.010, 34.03.030) |
No witness/notary stated for between-party execution. Recorded conveyance or memorandum must be acknowledged; eligible document has original signatures, which may be electronic (§§ 40.17.030, .110, .120) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and electronic acknowledgment may satisfy notarial law. Required e-delivery must remain printable/storable. UETA excludes primary-residence default/eviction/right-to-cure notices (§§ 09.80.010, .020, .040, .050, .080) |
No general executed-copy deadline found. At/before tenancy starts, landlord gives written manager and owner/service-agent names/addresses and keeps them current; noncomplier becomes statutory agent. Condition statement is required only if landlord requires one (§§ 34.03.020, .080) |
No general lease-specific renewal/modification form beyond writing threshold. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, sublease/assignment needs consent; prospect supplies signed written offer and landlord has 14 days for signed written rejection or consent is presumed (§ 34.03.060) |
Lease term ≥1 year: record acknowledged lease or both-signed memorandum stating parties, addresses, date, property, term, and renewal/purchase rights. Nonrecording loses to later good-faith purchaser for value who records first, but not original parties/actual-notice persons (§§ 40.17.080, .110, .120) |
Covered agreement is unenforceable and longer estate cannot be transferred without § 09.25.010 writing/subscription. Conduct-cured >1-year agreement operates for only 1 year. Unrecorded ≥1-year conveyance is void only against protected later purchaser who records first |
| Arizona verified 2026-07-29 | A.R.S. §§ 33-401, 33-411 to -412, 33-1301 to -1381, 44-101, 44-7001 to -7051; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if term >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making; otherwise ARLTA recognizes oral rental agreements (§§ 33-401(A), 33-1314, 44-101(5)-(6)) |
Statute of frauds: party charged or authorized signer; >1-year estate: subscribed and delivered by landlord/disposer or agent authorized in writing (§§ 33-401(A), 44-101) |
No witness/notary rule for ordinary term ≤1 year. >1-year conveyance signed by grantor and acknowledged before authorized officer; acknowledgment also required to record (§§ 33-401(B), 33-411(B)) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, delivery must be retainable, and e-notarial signature can satisfy acknowledgment (§§ 44-7005, -7007 to -7008, -7011) |
Signed copy tendered/delivered to tenant and fully executed copy returned within reasonable time; signed copy again furnished on move-in. Blank spaces completed; specified landlord/manager information due by commencement (§§ 33-1321(C), 33-1322) |
Renewal/extension must meet >1-year or one-year-performance writing rules if covered; no separate shorter-modification execution form in surveyed provisions (§§ 33-401, 44-101) |
No numeric lease threshold stated. Instrument affecting real property needs acknowledgment to record; unrecorded term-of-years conveyance is valid between parties but void as to creditors/later value purchasers without notice (§§ 33-411 to -412) |
No action on covered unwritten/unsigned agreement; >1-year estate not conveyed outside prescribed instrument. Copy-rule breach is material noncompliance; nonrecording has stated third-party, not party-to-party, effect (§§ 33-401, 33-1322(E), 33-412, 44-101) |
| Arkansas verified 2026-07-30 | Ark. Code §§ 4-59-101–102; 18-17-201, -202, -301(11), -401; 25-32-103, -105, -107–108; 14-15-402, -404; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if lease term >1 year or agreement is not performable within 1 year after making. Oral residential rental agreements are recognized below those lines (Ark. Code §§ 4-59-101(a)(5)–(6), 4-59-102(a), 18-17-301(11)) |
Statute-of-frauds writing signed by party charged or properly authorized signer. For the >1-year land-interest rule, parties sign or agents have written authority; covered assignment/grant/surrender is signed by acting party or agent authorized in writing (§§ 4-59-101(a), 4-59-102) |
No witness, acknowledgment, seal, or notary stated for validity under the lease-writing rules. Proof or acknowledgment is required before an instrument affecting real estate is admitted to record (§§ 4-59-101–102, 18-12-201) |
Allowed only when each party agrees to transact electronically; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Any legally required written delivery must be retainable when received, and a sender cannot inhibit printing or storage (§§ 25-32-103, -105, -107, -108) |
No general duty in Chapter 18-17 to give the tenant a signed/executed lease copy or a basic written statement for an oral tenancy; the Act expressly recognizes written or oral rental agreements (§§ 18-17-301(11), -401) |
No separate form for every renewal or modification. A later agreement crossing the >1-year term or 1-year-from-making test needs writing; assignment, grant, or surrender of a >1-year interest follows § 4-59-102(b) |
An acknowledged/proved lease may be recorded. Filing gives constructive notice; without filing, an instrument affecting title is not valid against a later value purchaser without actual notice or the executing party's judgment creditor. No lease-term threshold or lease-specific memorandum stated (§§ 14-15-402, -404; 18-12-201) |
No action on a covered agreement without the required writing/signature. A longer parol lease has only at-will effect and no greater effect than a lease ≤1 year; a covered assignment/grant/surrender must be written. Nonrecording affects the named purchasers/creditors, not original-party formation (§§ 4-59-101–102; 14-15-404) |
| California verified 2026-07-29 | Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1091, 1214–1215, 1624, 1633.3–1633.8, 1698, 1962; Gov. Code §§ 27280, 27287; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if term >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making; oral dwelling leases recognized below that line (§§ 1091, 1624(a)(1), (3), 1962(b)) |
Subscribed by party to be charged or agent; transfer rule requires disposing party or agent authorized in writing (§§ 1091, 1624(a)(3)) |
No witness/notary for validity; acknowledgment is required before recording a lease (§§ 1091, 1624; Gov. Code § 27287) |
Allowed only when both parties agree; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and delivered record must remain printable or storable (§§ 1633.5, 1633.7–1633.8) |
Copy within 15 days after tenant executes; annual extra copy on request. Oral tenancy: written landlord/payment statement within 15 days (§ 1962(a)(4), (b)) |
Writing always works; executed oral change or oral change with new consideration may work, but modified deal must satisfy § 1624 if covered (§ 1698) |
Lease >1 year: nonrecording can defeat it against later good-faith purchaser/mortgagee recording first; lease needs acknowledgment to record (§ 1214; Gov. Code §§ 27280, 27287) |
Covered oral/unsigned lease is invalid; nonrecording affects specified third persons. Copy failure does not void lease but triggers statutory agency/remedy consequences (§§ 1624, 1962(c)–(d), 1214) |
| Colorado verified 2026-07-30 | C.R.S. §§ 38-10-106, -108, -109 (land-interest writing and agent authority); § 38-12-801 (residential signed-copy and landlord-identity duties); §§ 24-71.3-103, -105, -107, -108 (electronic transactions); §§ 38-35-106, -109 (recording). Ordinary private dwelling rentals (§ 38-12-902) |
A lease longer than 1 year is void unless the contract, note, or memorandum states the consideration, is written, and is subscribed by the party making the lease (§ 38-10-108). A lease not exceeding 1 year is outside § 38-10-106's land-interest writing rule |
Longer lease: signature of the party creating/making the lease—ordinarily the landlord—or an agent authorized in writing (§§ 38-10-106, -109). Separate copy duty: the tenant must receive an agreement signed by both landlord and tenant (§ 38-12-801(1)) |
No witness, acknowledgment, or notary required to execute the lease; §§ 38-10-106/-108 require a subscribed writing only. Even an unacknowledged written real-property instrument gives notice after recording (§ 38-35-106) |
Allowed only when both parties agree to transact electronically (§ 24-71.3-105). Electronic records/signatures satisfy writing/signature rules (§ 24-71.3-107); delivered records must be printable or storable (§ 24-71.3-108). Primary-residence default, eviction, and cure notices are excluded (§ 24-71.3-103(3)(b)(II)) |
Within 7 days after the tenant signs, landlord must give a copy signed by landlord and tenant; electronic is allowed unless tenant requests paper (§ 38-12-801(1)). Written lease must state landlord/authorized agent name and address; a change requires notice or conspicuous posting within 1 business day (§ 38-12-801(2)) |
No separate statewide renewal form in these sections. A contract leasing for longer than 1 year remains subject to § 38-10-108; creating, assigning, or surrendering a land interest requires a signed writing or operation of law, with written agent authority (§ 38-10-106) |
Optional between the original parties. A written agreement affecting real-property title may be recorded with the county clerk and recorder; an unrecorded lease loses to a later rights-holder who records first without prior notice. Colorado expressly calls this race-notice (§ 38-35-109(1)); no lease-specific memorandum form or term threshold is stated |
A lease longer than 1 year is 'void' without the § 38-10-108 writing, consideration, and subscribing signature; § 38-10-106 does not create/assign/surrender the land interest without its signed writing. Section 38-12-801(1) imposes the 7-day signed-copy duty but states no lease-invalidity consequence for a late or missing copy |
| Connecticut verified 2026-07-30 | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-550, 47-5, 47-19, 47a-1, 47a-6, 47a-7d, 1-268, 1-270, 1-272, 1-273, 1-276; ordinary private dwelling lease |
No civil action without signed writing/memorandum for real-property interest or agreement not performable within 1 year; oral lease ≤1 year is excepted after actual occupancy during part of term (§ 52-550) |
Writing signed by party or agent to be charged (§ 52-550). For § 47-19 third-person effect, deed-style execution uses the land grantor or authorized entity signer (§ 47-5) |
No witness/acknowledgment for party-to-party action. § 47-19 lease or notice needs 2 witnesses and grantor acknowledgment for recording and broader effect (§§ 47-5, 47-19) |
Allowed by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, required e-delivery must be retainable, and e-acknowledgment is recognized. Primary-residence default/eviction notices are excluded (§§ 1-268, 1-270, 1-272, 1-273, 1-276) |
No general executed-copy delivery duty in cited chapters. Landlord-provided written lease must use completed state summary as first page; written manager/service-contact notice due by commencement (§§ 47a-6, 47a-7d) |
Any lease providing for renewal triggers § 47-19's third-person recording rule. General one-year tests still apply; cited statutes state no separate modification, assignment, or surrender form |
Life, >1-year, renewal, or purchase-option lease must be deed-form executed and recorded for effect beyond listed parties/successors; compliant 7-item notice of lease may substitute (§ 47-19) |
No civil action on agreement within § 52-550 absent writing/exception. Missing § 47a-7d form: 1 month's rent civil penalty plus possible fees/costs; § 47a-6 failure creates statutory agency; nonrecording limits third-person effect |
| Delaware verified 2026-07-30 | 25 Del. C. §§ 158, 5101, 5105-5108, 5110; 6 Del. C. §§ 2714, 12A-103/-105/-107/-108; 30 Del. C. § 5401; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Rental agreement is not effective >1 year unless written; no stated term defaults month-to-month. Land-interest and not-within-1-year-from-making agreements also need signed writing/memorandum (§§ 5106, 2714) |
Writing is signed by party to be charged or agent lawfully authorized in writing. If one side signed/tendered, the other's specified acceptance of rent or possession + rent has signature effect, capped at 1 year (§§ 2714, 5110) |
No lease-specific witness, acknowledgment, notary, or seal stated for between-party execution in §§ 5105-5110 or § 2714; § 158 itself adds no such formality to its recording command |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required e-delivery must remain printable or storable; blocked retention makes the record unenforceable against recipient (§§ 12A-103, -105, -107, -108) |
Landlord must give tenant a free copy of written rental agreement. Oral tenant gets owner/resident-agent/deemed-landlord names and business addresses in writing on demand (§ 5105). Future guide duty is scheduled no later than 2027-06-10 |
Modified renewal: landlord gives ≥60 days' written notice specifying changes; tenant accepts by silence unless terminating ≥45 days before term end. Rejection terminates. Unnoticed ≥1-year term becomes month-to-month (§§ 5107-5108) |
Nonexempt taxable residential lease interest >5 years: record lease or memorandum within 15 days after term starts. Memorandum identifies parties, premises, duration, renewals, and purchase options; late recording + charges revives enforceability (§§ 158, 5401) |
Unwritten agreement is ineffective beyond 1 year; § 2714 bars an action; conduct-cured longer term shrinks to 1 year. Covered >5-year document is unenforceable until recorded and taxes/penalties/charges paid (§§ 5106, 5110, 2714, 158) |
| District of Columbia verified 2026-07-30 | D.C. Code §§ 28-3502, 28-4902 to -4911, 42-306, 42-401, 42-409, 42-601, 42-3505.01; 14 DCMR § 303.1; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Writing signed by party charged for real-estate interest or deal not performable within 1 year; estate >1 year requires signed-and-sealed deed (§§ 28-3502, 42-306(b)) |
Party charged or authorized person for action; >1-year residential estate: lessor signs and seals in person or by power of attorney (§§ 28-3502, 42-306(b)) |
No witness stated for validity; >1-year deed must be sealed. Acknowledgment and certification are recording formalities (§§ 42-306(b), 42-401, 42-601) |
By mutual agreement, e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and e-acknowledgment works; >1-year lease still must meet deed/seal law (§§ 28-4904, -4906, -4907, -4910) |
Owner gives exact, legible, completed copy of any agreement/application tenant signed upon execution or within 7 days (14 DCMR § 303.1) |
Any new >1-year estate must meet deed rule; after expiration, continued rent payment preserves occupancy under the rental-housing statute (§§ 42-306(b), 42-3505.01(a)(1)) |
>1-year lease deed: acknowledgment/certification and recording protect against creditors, later bona fide purchasers/mortgagees, and others; written land contract is recordable (§§ 42-401, 42-409) |
No action on covered unwritten/unsigned agreement; >1-year estate does not take effect without required deed; nonrecording postpones effect against listed third persons (§§ 28-3502, 42-306(b), 42-401) |
| Florida verified 2026-07-29 | Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–.683, 83.50, 668.50, 689.01, 695.01, 695.03, 725.01; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if term >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making (§§ 689.01(1), 725.01) |
Signed by party to be charged or lawful agent; conveyance rule uses party creating/transferring the >1-year term or authorized agent (§§ 689.01(1), 725.01) |
No subscribing witnesses or seal for lease validity; no notary requirement. Acknowledgment/proof is required to record (§§ 689.01(1), 695.03) |
Allowed only when both parties agree; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and delivered record must be printable or storable (§ 668.50(3), (5), (7)–(8)) |
No general executed-copy deadline in current ch. 83 pt. II; written landlord/notice-recipient name and address due at or before tenancy begins (§ 83.50) |
Renewal/extension must meet the >1-year rules if covered; assignment or surrender of a >1-year lease interest must be signed writing, but needs no witnesses (§§ 689.01(1), 725.01) |
Lease ≥1 year must be recorded to bind creditors and later purchasers for value without notice; execution must be acknowledged/proved to record (§§ 695.01(1), 695.03) |
No action on covered unwritten/unsigned promise; >1-year estate not created outside signed writing. Nonrecording affects specified creditors/purchasers, not stated party-to-party validity (§§ 689.01, 695.01, 725.01) |
| Georgia verified 2026-07-29 | O.C.G.A. §§ 10-6-2, 10-12-3 to -12, 13-5-30, 44-2-9, 44-2-14 to -15, 44-2-37, 44-5-30, 44-7-1 to -3; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Oral lease allowed for term ≤1 year; longer covered lease must be written. Separate rule covers an agreement not performable within 1 year after making (§§ 44-7-2(a), 13-5-30(a)(4)–(5)) |
Signed by party to be charged or lawfully authorized signer; agency must be created in writing when exercised by written instrument (§§ 13-5-30(a), 10-6-2) |
No witness/notary for ordinary validity; recording requires deed formality—officer attestation and 1 other witness (§§ 44-2-9, 44-5-30; officer choices in § 44-2-15) |
Allowed when both parties agree; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, delivered record must remain printable or storable, and electronic notarization can satisfy a required act (§§ 10-12-3, -5, -7 to -8, -11) |
No general executed-copy deadline in current ch. 44-7; written owner/service-agent and manager names/addresses due at or before tenancy, changes within 30 days (§ 44-7-3) |
Renewal/extension that modifies a covered lease, and any cancellation, release, or rescission, must be written and signed by all parties, subject to the court-admission proviso (§ 13-5-30(b)) |
Any lease/usufruct or assignment may be recorded in property's county if executed with deed formality; filing gives notice from filing date. Electronic recordation permitted (§§ 44-2-9, 44-2-37) |
Covered promise is not binding without required writing/signature; noncompliant change fails § 13-5-30(b). Missing § 44-7-3 disclosure makes the signer statutory agent; defective record form withholds § 44-2-9 record notice |
| Hawaii verified 2026-07-30 | Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 501-101, -121; 502-41, -83, -122; 521-8, -22, -37, -43, -67; 656-1; 666-4; 489E-3, -5, -7, -8; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Oral lease valid for term ≤1 year; longer lease or agreement not performable within 1 year needs signed writing. If no agreed residential term, default is month-to-month (§§ 521-22, 656-1(4)–(5), 666-4) |
Covered writing signed by party to be charged; agent must be authorized in writing. Statutes do not impose a separate both-parties-sign rule (§ 656-1) |
No witness/notary stated for enforceability between parties. Acknowledgment is required to record an instrument (§§ 502-41, 656-1, 666-4) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and delivered copy must be printable or storable. Registrar may accept an e-record with e-acknowledgment (§§ 489E-3, -5, -7, -8; 502-122) |
Written lease: landlord must furnish tenant a copy, with no stated initial deadline. Manager/owner-agent disclosure is due at/before tenancy; off-island owner must name a same-island agent (§ 521-43) |
Same duration rules govern renewal or term change; rental agreement includes oral or written modifications. Any assignment/sublet-consent restriction must be in a written rental agreement (§§ 521-8, -37, 656-1, 666-4) |
Regular system: lease >1 year should be recorded; otherwise void against later good-faith purchaser, lessee, or mortgagee without notice who records first. Land Court: term ≥1 year must be registered (§§ 501-101, -121; 502-83) |
Covered oral/unsigned agreement cannot be maintained by action; oral term ≤1 year remains valid. After proper demand, unresolved § 521-43 disclosure failure for 10 days costs $100 + reasonable attorney fees; nonrecording has stated third-party/Land Court effects (§§ 521-67, 656-1, 666-4) |
| Idaho verified 2026-07-30 | Idaho Code §§ 9-505, 55-601, 55-801, 55-805, 55-812, 55-813, 55-815, 55-818; §§ 28-50-103, -105, -107, -108; general rules applied to ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if lease >1 year or agreement by its terms is not performable within 1 year after making; otherwise no general lease-writing mandate in cited provisions (§ 9-505(1), (4)) |
Writing subscribed by party charged or agent; agent making >1-year lease needs written authority subscribed by party charged. Written real-property conveyance subscribed by disposer or agent authorized in writing (§§ 9-505, 55-601) |
No witness/notary for original-party validity. Before recording, execution must be acknowledged or proved; a recordable summary must be signed and acknowledged by all original parties (§§ 55-805, 55-815, 55-818) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and delivered record must be retainable. Agreement to one e-transaction does not compel another (§§ 28-50-103, -105, -107, -108) |
No general executed-lease-copy or lease-specific owner/manager written-statement duty located in the governing provisions |
No separate form for every change; test renewal or extension against >1-year and 1-year-from-making rules. Conveyance of a real-property estate follows subscribed-writing and written-agent-authority rule (§§ 9-505, 55-601) |
Instrument affecting title/possession may be recorded; >1-year lease unrecorded is void against later good-faith purchaser/mortgagee for value who records first, but valid between parties/people with notice. Signed, acknowledged summary may be recorded (§§ 55-801, -805, -812, -815, -818) |
Covered agreement is invalid and evidence cannot be received without writing or secondary evidence of contents. Nonrecording leaves instrument valid between parties and those with notice but exposes >1-year lease to later purchaser/mortgagee priority (§§ 9-505, 55-812, 55-815) |
| Illinois verified 2026-07-29 | 740 ILCS 80/1–2; 765 ILCS 5/1, 20, 28, 30–31; 815 ILCS 333/3, 5, 7–8; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Writing if land-interest term >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making (740 ILCS 80/1–2) |
Signed by party to be charged or lawfully authorized signer; authority for land-interest contract must itself be written and signed (740 ILCS 80/1–2) |
No witness/notary for validity; filed real-estate instrument gives notice even if unacknowledged, though execution must then be proved for evidence (765 ILCS 5/31) |
Allowed when parties agree; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and required e-delivery must remain printable or storable (815 ILCS 333/3, 5, 7–8) |
No general statewide executed-copy deadline for ordinary dwelling lease; mobile-home-park copy-on-request rule is special and excluded (765 ILCS 745/1, 8) |
Renewal, extension, or modification must satisfy writing/signature rules if resulting deal is >1 year or not performable within 1 year; no separate ordinary-lease form rule (740 ILCS 80/1–2) |
Written lease affecting real estate may be filed in property's county; until filing it is void against creditors and later purchasers without notice; filing supplies notice even without acknowledgment (765 ILCS 5/28, 30–31) |
No action on covered unwritten/unsigned agreement; nonrecording leaves lease void only as to creditors and later purchasers without notice until filed (740 ILCS 80/1–2; 765 ILCS 5/30) |
| Indiana verified 2026-07-29 | Ind. Code §§ 26-2-8-103/-104/-106/-107/-110; 32-21-1-1/-13, 32-21-2-3, 32-21-3-3/-4, 32-31-3-18; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Lease ≤3 years expressly exempt from statute-of-frauds section. Lease/memorandum >3 years must be written; no separate one-year-performance override for exempt shorter lease (§§ 32-21-1-1(a), 32-21-1-13) |
>3-year lease/memorandum signed by lessor/landlord; action requires party-charged or authorized-agent signature (§§ 32-21-1-1(b), 32-21-1-13) |
Term ≤3 years: none. >3-year lease/memorandum must have acknowledgment or proof; recorded instrument also needs acknowledgment/proof (§§ 32-21-1-13, 32-21-2-3) |
Allowed only by party agreement; >3-year conveyance expressly includes e-record, e-record/signature satisfy form, delivery must be retainable, and e-notary works (§§ 26-2-8-103/-104/-106/-107/-110; 32-21-1-13) |
No general executed-copy duty found. Written names/addresses of Indiana-resident manager and accessible Indiana service/notice agent due at or before commencement (§ 32-31-3-18) |
Renewal/extension creating term >3 years must use writing, landlord signature, and acknowledgment/proof; no separate shorter-modification execution form in surveyed provisions (§§ 32-21-1-1, -13) |
Lease >3 years must be recorded for effect beyond grantor/heirs/devisees/notice persons. Executory lease contract or memorandum may record and gives inquiry notice (§§ 32-21-3-3 to -4) |
No action on covered unsigned >3-year lease; conveyance lacks prescribed form. Unrecorded >3-year lease invalid against nonexcepted persons; disclosure failure creates agency and reasonable discovery-expense remedy (§§ 32-21-1-1/-13, 32-21-3-3, 32-31-3-18) |
| Iowa verified 2026-07-30 | Iowa Code §§ 622.32; 562A.6, .10, .13; 554D.104, .106, .108, .110, .113; 558.1, .20, .41, .42; ordinary private dwelling rental |
Evidence incompetent absent signed writing for land-interest lease >1 year or agreement not performable within 1 year after making (§ 622.32(3)-(4)); exactly 1-year lease excluded |
Writing signed by party charged or authorized agent (§ 622.32). Under § 562A.10, acceptance of rent/possession can cure missing landlord/tenant signature and delivery, but >1-year term then works only 1 year |
No witness/notary for party-to-party enforceability in cited writing statutes. Lawful recording requires prior acknowledgment or proof under chapter 9B (§§ 558.20, 558.42) |
Allowed by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, required e-delivery must remain printable or storable, and e-acknowledgment is recognized (§§ 554D.104, .106, .108, .110, .113) |
No general executed-copy deadline in cited chapter. Section 562A.10 addresses signature/delivery by conduct; written manager and owner/service-contact information due by commencement and kept current (§ 562A.13) |
No separate lease-specific renewal/modification form in cited statutes; § 622.32 applies when later agreement creates/transfers land interest beyond 1 year or cannot be performed within 1 year |
Any instrument relating to real estate may be recorded after acknowledgment/proof. Unrecorded lease lacks validity against later purchaser for value without notice; no lease-term threshold or general memorandum form stated (§§ 558.1, .41, .42) |
Missing § 622.32 writing makes evidence incompetent. Conduct-cured unsigned/undelivered >1-year rental agreement works only 1 year (§ 562A.10). Section 562A.13 failure creates statutory agency; nonrecording affects later purchasers |
| Kansas verified 2026-07-30 | K.S.A. 33-106; 58-2543(k), 58-2545, 58-2546; 16-1603, -1605, -1607, -1608; 58-2221 to -2223; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if lease creates a land interest >1 year or agreement is not performable within 1 year after making. Oral residential agreements recognized; unsigned written term >1 year is effective only 1 year under § 58-2546(c) |
Statute-of-frauds writing signed by party charged or an agent lawfully authorized in writing. Written residential agreement uses both sides' signature/delivery, but acceptance of rent or possession/payment can supply the missing side's effect (§§ 33-106, 58-2546) |
No witness, acknowledgment, seal, or notary for party-to-party validity. Proof/acknowledgment and certification are needed for recording (§§ 33-106, 58-2546, 58-2221) |
Allowed only when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required written delivery must be retainable and sender cannot inhibit printing/storage. Kansas UETA states no lease or primary-residence exclusion (§§ 16-1603, -1605, -1607, -1608) |
No general duty to give tenant a signed/executed lease copy or basic written statement for an oral tenancy. Section 58-2546 addresses signature/delivery and conduct-based effect, not a copy remedy; § 58-2543(k) recognizes oral agreements |
No separate form for every renewal/modification. A later agreement crossing the >1-year land-interest or 1-year-from-making test needs writing; an unsigned conduct-effective term remains capped at 1 year (§§ 33-106, 58-2546(c)) |
Acknowledged/proved instrument affecting real estate may be recorded; filing gives notice to all and later purchasers/mortgagees. Before filing, instrument is valid only between parties and persons with actual notice (§§ 58-2221 to -2223) |
No action on covered agreement without signed writing. Missing residential signature/delivery may be cured by statutory conduct, but >1-year term then works only 1 year. Nonrecording limits effect beyond parties/actual-notice persons (§§ 33-106, 58-2546, 58-2223) |
| Kentucky verified 2026-07-30 | Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 371.010, 382.010, 382.080, 382.130, 383.500, 383.545, 383.585, 369.103, 369.105, 369.107-369.108; ordinary private dwelling lease. URLTA duties apply only where locally adopted |
Writing required for lease >1 year and for any agreement not performable within 1 year after making (§ 371.010(6)-(7)); real-property term >1 year must be conveyed by deed (§ 382.010) |
Writing or memorandum signed by party to be charged or that party's authorized agent; statute does not require both parties' signatures in every case (§ 371.010) |
No witness/notary stated for party-to-party enforcement. For recording the deed-form lease, use acknowledgment or statutory proof by subscribing witnesses (§§ 382.080, 382.130) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and electronically delivered writing must remain printable or storable (§§ 369.103, 369.105, 369.107-369.108) |
No statewide executed-copy duty in cited statutes. In an adopting URLTA locality, written manager and owner/service-agent names and addresses are due at or before tenancy begins (§§ 383.500, 383.585) |
No separate cited lease-modification form; a renewal/extension that is >1 year or not performable within 1 year after making must satisfy the same writing/signature rule (§ 371.010(6)-(7)) |
Term >1 year uses deed form; if the deed conveys the leasehold for >5 years, acknowledgment/proof and recordation are needed against purchaser for value without notice and creditors (§§ 382.010, 382.080, 382.130) |
No action on a covered oral/unsigned agreement (§ 371.010); unrecorded >5-year deed-form lease is not good against specified purchaser/creditor classes (§ 382.080). URLTA disclosure failure creates statutory agency (§ 383.585(3)) |
| Louisiana verified 2026-07-30 | La. Civ. Code arts. 2679-2681, 2712-2713, 3338, 3346; La. R.S. 9:2603, 2605, 2607-2608, 9:2742; ordinary private dwelling lease. Act 240 restructures arts. 2681/2681.1 effective Aug. 1, 2026 |
No duration-based writing trigger: lease may be oral or written (art. 2681). Agreed term plus extension option cannot exceed 99 years; if duration is omitted, ordinary immovable lease is month-to-month (arts. 2679-2680) |
No signature required for basic party-to-party lease because oral form is allowed. A recorded notice instead of the full lease must be signed by lessor and lessee (art. 2681; R.S. 9:2742(A)(1)) |
No witness, acknowledgment, or notary stated for ordinary lease validity; R.S. 9:2742 requires the recordable notice to be signed by lessor and lessee but states no witness/notary form |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and delivered record must remain printable or storable. Primary-residence default, eviction, and cure notices are excluded (R.S. 9:2603, 2605, 2607-2608) |
No general executed-copy deadline or owner/manager statement in the cited general lease-form provisions; Louisiana permits an oral lease (art. 2681) |
Lease/renewal may be oral or written, subject to 99-year combined maximum. Recorded notice must state extensions/renewals; a changed listed term needs a signed recorded amendment to affect third persons (arts. 2679, 2681; R.S. 9:2742(A), (C)) |
No term threshold: immovable lease affects third persons only after parish conveyance-record filing. Record full written lease or signed notice containing statutory fields; record listed changes too (arts. 2681, 3338, 3346; R.S. 9:2742). Same rule moves to art. 2681.1 Aug. 1, 2026 |
Oral lease remains valid between parties; term over 99 years is reduced to 99. Unrecorded immovable lease does not bind acquiring third person; missing notice amendment withholds third-person effect for the change (arts. 2679, 2712, 3338; R.S. 9:2742(C)) |
| Maine verified 2026-07-30 | 10 M.R.S. §§ 9403, 9405, 9407, 9408; 14 M.R.S. §§ 6030(4), 6030-J; 33 M.R.S. §§ 51, 162, 201; ordinary private dwelling lease |
No estate greater than tenancy at will without signed writing. Land-interest agreement or deal not performable within 1 year also falls under statute of frauds (33 M.R.S. §§ 51(4)-(5), 162) |
Estate-creating writing signed by grantor/maker or attorney; statute-of-frauds memorandum signed by party charged or lawfully authorized signer. Triggered total-price disclosure is signed by both parties (§§ 51, 162; 14 M.R.S. § 6030-J) |
No witness, acknowledgment, or notary stated for ordinary between-party execution. Covered recording requires acknowledgment; a memorandum is executed and acknowledged by one lessor (33 M.R.S. §§ 51, 162, 201) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required e-delivery must remain printable or storable; blocked retention makes record unenforceable against recipient (10 M.R.S. §§ 9403, 9405, 9407, 9408) |
No general executed-lease-copy deadline found. If tenant owes a mandatory or optional recurring fee, landlord must give pre-agreement total-cost disclosure; both sign and each gets a copy. Exception if neither fee applies (14 M.R.S. § 6030-J) |
Grant, assignment, or surrender of estate beyond tenancy at will needs signed writing; >1-year-from-making change also needs signed memorandum. Recorded lease memorandum describes renewals/extensions and purchase/title options (§§ 51, 162, 201) |
Lease >2 years or indefinite term: acknowledge + record for effect beyond grantor, heirs/devisees, and actual-notice persons. One-lessor acknowledged memorandum may replace full lease and gives notice of all terms (§ 201) |
No signed writing creates no estate greater than tenancy at will; § 51 bars an action on covered deal. Triggered lease/tenancy is unenforceable if landlord lacks signed price disclosure. Nonrecording has § 201's limited third-party effect |
| Maryland verified 2026-07-29 | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-901; Real Prop. §§ 3-101/-102/-203, 4-101, 5-101/-103, 8-208/-210; Com. Law §§ 21-102/-104/-106/-107/-110; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Any oral land lease has only at-will effect. Landlord offering ≥5 dwelling units must use written lease. Party-charged signature needed for action on agreement not performable within 1 year (§§ RP 5-101, 8-208(a); CJP 5-901) |
Landlord/party creating leasehold or agent with written authority signs; party charged must sign for one-year-performance action. >7-year memorandum must be executed by every lease party (§§ RP 5-101, 3-101(e); CJP 5-901) |
No witness, seal, or acknowledgment required for lease validity; lease is sufficient even unacknowledged. Recording-required longer lease still gets lease exception (§ 4-101) |
Allowed only with separately shown party consent; standard-form e-consent must be conspicuous and separately accepted. E-record/signature satisfy form and delivery must be printable/storable; default/eviction/cure notices excluded (§§ CL 21-102/-104/-106/-107/-110) |
No general executed-copy duty found. Written request gives prospective applicant materially complete proposed lease form before execution/deposit; landlord/service contact must be in lease or posted (§§ 8-208(b), 8-210(a)) |
Automatic renewal >1 month must be set apart and separately initialed/signed/marked by tenant. Assignment, grant, or surrender of leasehold must be signed writing or operation of law (§§ 8-208(e), 5-103) |
Initial term >7 years must be executed/recorded; initial ≤7 plus each party-controlled renewal ≤7 exempt. Every-party memorandum with statutory fields may substitute. Unrecorded longer lease has limited protected effect (§§ 3-101/-102/-203) |
Oral lease only at will; ≥5-unit landlord's no-writing breach creates presumed 1-year tenancy with tenant's early exit right. Auto-renewal lacking tenant initials/signature/mark is unenforceable by landlord; unrecorded >7-year lease has limited effect (§§ 5-101, 8-208(a), (e), 3-101(d)) |
| Massachusetts verified 2026-07-29 | G.L. c. 183, §§ 3-4, 29; c. 186, § 15D; c. 259, § 1; c. 110G, §§ 3, 5, 7-8, 11-12; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Fixed leasehold estate requires landlord/grantor-signed writing; otherwise estate at will only. Action on land-interest or >1-year-performance agreement also requires party-charged signed writing (c. 183, § 3; c. 259, § 1) |
Estate creation/assignment/grant/surrender: grantor or attorney; action-bar memorandum: party charged or lawfully authorized signer; notice of lease: all lease parties (c. 183, §§ 3-4; c. 259, § 1) |
No witness/notary for party-to-party lease validity. A lease or notice of lease must be acknowledged or its due execution proved to record (c. 183, § 29; Land Court acknowledgment standard) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and delivery must be retainable. E-notarial signature can satisfy acknowledgment; primary-residence default/eviction/cure notices are excluded (c. 110G, §§ 3, 5, 7-8, 11) |
If lessor orally agrees to execute lease and gets tenant signature, lessor must deliver lessor-signed/executed copy within 30 days; violation carries ≤$300 fine and waiver is void (c. 186, § 15D) |
Renewal/extension creating fixed estate needs grantor-signed writing; assignment, grant, or surrender of estate/interest also needs such writing or operation of law (c. 183, § 3; c. 259, § 1) |
Lease >7 years from making: record lease or all-party notice containing date, premises, term/start, and renewal/extension rights; nonrecording loses against persons beyond stated exceptions (c. 183, §§ 4, 29) |
Unwritten estate has effect of estate at will only; no action on covered unsigned agreement. Copy violation fine ≤$300/waiver void; unrecorded >7-year lease invalid except against lessor-side parties and actual-notice persons (c. 183, §§ 3-4; c. 186, § 15D; c. 259, § 1) |
| Michigan verified 2026-07-29 | MCL §§ 566.106, 566.108, 566.132, 554.632-.636, 450.833-.842, 565.29, 565.34-.35, 565.46-.47, 565.201, 565.844; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if lease term is >1 year; separate writing rule if agreement cannot be performed within 1 year from making (§§ 566.108, 566.132) |
Long lease signed by lessor/party making it or agent lawfully authorized in writing; general 1-year-performance rule uses party-to-be-charged signature (§§ 566.106, 566.108, 566.132) |
No witness/notary for ordinary validity; recording a >3-year lease uses Chapter 565 acknowledgment or proof rules (§§ 566.108, 565.35, 565.46-.47) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, attribution must be shown, and required delivery/retention must remain printable or storable (§§ 450.835, 450.837-.839, 450.842) |
No general executed-copy deadline. Covered written agreement must state lessor's notice name/address and statutory Truth in Renting notice; narrow basic-term writings are excluded (§§ 554.632, 554.634) |
Renewal/extension crossing a writing threshold must be written; landlord generally cannot alter after commencement without tenant's written consent, subject to 30-day written-notice exceptions (§§ 566.106, 566.132, 554.633(1)(l)) |
Lease >3 years is a conveyance; unrecorded lease loses to later good-faith purchaser for value who records first. No lease-specific short memorandum form in Chapter 565 (§§ 565.29, 565.34-.35) |
Covered unwritten/unsigned lease is void; prohibited unilateral-change clause is void; uncured missing mandatory statements allow avoidance, injunction, and ≥$500 damages; nonrecording affects later purchaser priority (§§ 566.108, 566.132, 554.633(3), 554.636(2), 565.29) |
| Minnesota verified 2026-07-30 | Minn. Stat. §§ 513.04-.05 (land-interest and longer-lease writing); §§ 504B.111, .115, .144-.146, .181 (residential form, copy, renewal, duration, identity); ch. 325L (e-transactions); §§ 507.01, .24, .34 (recording). Ordinary private dwelling leases |
Lease longer than 1 year: written contract/note/memorandum stating consideration and signed by party making lease or written-authorized agent (§ 513.05). Separate residential rule: building with 12+ units must use written lease for every unit and identify the unit before tenant signs (§ 504B.111) |
Longer lease signed by party making/creating the lease—ordinarily landlord—or agent authorized in writing (§§ 513.04-.05). Section 504B.111 requires unit identification before tenant signs; § 504B.115 gives a copy right to each occupying tenant whose signature appears, but does not require landlord signature on that copy |
No witness, acknowledgment, or notary for execution under §§ 513.04-.05 or ch. 504B. If a lease over 3 years is recorded, § 507.24 separately requires execution, certified acknowledgment, and original party/notary signatures |
Allowed when each party agrees (§ 325L.05); electronic record/signature satisfies writing/signature (§ 325L.07), and delivered record must be printable or storable (§ 325L.08). UETA expressly excludes § 507.24's real-estate recording requirements; electronic recording must follow the separate commission standards (§§ 325L.03(b)(2), 507.24, subd. 2(b)) |
Written lease: landlord must give a copy to each occupying tenant whose signature appears; signed receipt/acknowledgment is prima facie proof (§ 504B.115). Before tenancy, disclose manager and landlord/service-agent name/address in lease or writing and post it (§ 504B.181). First page must show start/end dates and any required prorated rent (§ 504B.146) |
Lease over 10 months: landlord cannot require renewal more than 6 months before expiration; waiver is void (§ 504B.144). To enforce an automatic renewal of 2+ months after an original 2+ month term, landlord must give written personal/certified-mail reminder 15-30 days before tenant's quit-notice deadline (§ 504B.145). Assignment/surrender remains within § 513.04's signed-writing rule |
Chapter 507's 'conveyance' excludes leases of 3 years or less, so recording priority applies to leases over 3 years (§ 507.01). Record with county recorder; recordable instrument needs acknowledgment and original signatures (§ 507.24). Unrecorded conveyance loses to later good-faith purchaser who records first and to listed attachments/judgments (§ 507.34) |
Longer lease is 'void' without § 513.05 form. A 12+ unit landlord without required written lease commits petty misdemeanor (§ 504B.111). Missing copy is tenant defense to most enforcement actions unless tenant knew the relied-on term, with four statutory exceptions (§ 504B.115). Missing § 504B.181 identity disclosure bars rent/possession action until disclosure or 30-day knowledge |
| Mississippi verified 2026-07-30 | Miss. Code §§ 15-3-1, 89-1-3, 89-8-3, -7; 75-12-5, -9, -13, -15; 89-5-3, -7; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if lease term >1 year or agreement is not performable within 15 months after making. Residential rental agreements may otherwise be written or oral (Miss. Code §§ 15-3-1(c)–(d), 89-1-3, 89-8-7(1)(l)) |
>1-year land estate is declared by writing signed and delivered. An action on a covered agreement requires the signature of the party charged or an agent lawfully authorized in writing (§§ 89-1-3, 15-3-1) |
No witness, acknowledgment, seal, or notary stated for party-to-party validity. Acknowledgment or proof is required to record a conveyance or written land contract (§§ 15-3-1, 89-1-3, 89-5-3, -7) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and required written delivery must be retainable. UETA does not cover default, acceleration, foreclosure, eviction, or cure notices under a primary-residence rental agreement (§§ 75-12-5, -9, -13, -15) |
No general duty in Chapter 89-8 to give the tenant a signed/executed lease copy or basic written statement for an oral tenancy; current § 89-8-7(1)(l) expressly includes written and oral agreements |
No separate form for every renewal or modification. A later agreement needs writing if it creates a term >1 year or cannot be performed within 15 months from that agreement; the >1-year land estate must also be signed and delivered (§§ 15-3-1, 89-1-3) |
Acknowledged/proved conveyance or written land contract may be recorded. Without recording, a term-of-years instrument remains valid between parties/heirs but is void against protected creditors and later value purchasers without notice; recording gives notice (§§ 89-5-3, -7) |
No action on a covered lease/agreement without the required signed writing; a >1-year estate is not conveyed without a writing signed and delivered. Nonrecording affects protected creditors/purchasers, while the instrument remains valid between parties/heirs (§§ 15-3-1, 89-1-3, 89-5-3) |
| Missouri verified 2026-07-29 | Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 432.010/.050/.060/.210/.220/.230/.235/.250, 441.005/.060, 442.130/.150/.380-.400, 535.185; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Action on lease >1 year or agreement not performable within 1 year needs signed writing. Any unwritten residential-building lease is month-to-month; generally oral land leases have only at-will effect (§§ 432.010/.050, 441.060.3) |
Party-charged/authorized-person signature for action; both parties or agents must sign to avoid month-to-month treatment. §§ 432.050/.060 require written agent authority for lease form, assignment, or surrender |
No witness/notary to bind original parties. Recording instrument must be acknowledged or proved and certified; in-state notary is authorized (§§ 442.130/.150/.380-.400) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy form, delivered record must remain printable/storable, and e-acknowledgment works (§§ 432.210/.220/.230/.235/.250) |
No general executed-copy duty found. Written manager and owner/service-agent names and addresses due at or before commencement and kept current; failure creates statutory agency (§ 535.185) |
Covered renewal/extension follows signed-writing rules. Every lease assignment, grant, or surrender needs deed/note in writing signed by acting party or agent with written authority, unless by operation of law (§§ 432.010/.060) |
No lease-term threshold in general recording law. Acknowledged/proved written lease may record in land county; recording gives notice. Unrecorded instrument works only between parties and actual-notice persons (§§ 442.380-.400) |
No action on covered unsigned agreement; unwritten residential-building lease becomes month-to-month (generally at will). Unrecorded lease loses effect beyond parties/actual-notice persons; disclosure failure creates agency (§§ 432.010/.050, 441.060, 442.400, 535.185) |
| Montana verified 2026-07-30 | MCA §§ 28-2-903; 30-18-103/-104/-106/-107; 70-20-101; 70-21-102/-203/-304; 70-24-103/-205/-301; 70-25-206; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Oral tenancy at will or term ≤1 year allowed. Lease >1 year, or any deal not performable within 1 year from making, requires signed writing/memorandum (MCA §§ 28-2-903, 70-20-101; 70-24-103) |
Covered writing signed by party creating/granting interest or party charged. Agent authority must itself be written and signed. Condition statement is signed by landlord/agent (MCA §§ 28-2-903, 70-20-101, 70-25-206) |
No witness/notary stated for ordinary between-party execution. To record, execution is acknowledged by signer or proved by subscribing witness; proof route is notarized (MCA §§ 70-20-101, 70-21-102, -203) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required e-delivery must remain printable or storable; blocked retention makes record unenforceable against recipient (MCA §§ 30-18-103, -104, -106, -107) |
No general executed-lease-copy deadline found. At/before start, give current manager + owner/service-agent names/addresses. If deposit required, give separate landlord-signed condition statement at execution/creation; prior damage list on written request (§§ 70-24-301, 70-25-206) |
If written lease has no default extension and neither side gives 30-day pre-expiration notice, it becomes month-to-month. Longer renewal, assignment, or surrender follows signed-writing rules (§§ 28-2-903, 70-20-101, 70-24-205) |
Lease >1 year: acknowledgment/proof + recording protects against later good-faith purchaser/encumbrancer for value who records first. Unrecorded instrument remains valid between parties and persons with notice; no lease-specific memorandum alternative found (§§ 70-21-102, -203, -304) |
Covered unwritten deal is invalid; evidence inadmissible under § 28-2-903. Missing deposit-condition statement bars damage/cleaning recovery absent clear-and-convincing proof. Missing responsible-person disclosure creates statutory agency; nonrecording has race-notice effect |
| Nebraska verified 2026-07-30 | Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 36-103, -105; 76-1410(14), (18), -1413, -1417; 86-630, -632, -634, -635; 76-211, -238, -241; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written for lease >1 year; § 36-103 excepts only a lease for 1 year from making, so a delayed start may cross the line. Residential rental agreements otherwise may be written or oral (§§ 36-103, -105; 76-1410(14)) |
Writing signed by party by whom lease is made; land-interest writing subscribed by party creating, granting, assigning, or surrendering it. No separate agent-authority form appears in these sections (§§ 36-103, -105) |
No witness or notary for original-party validity. A >1-year lease offered for recording must be signed by grantor and acknowledged or proved; an unrecorded instrument remains valid between parties (§§ 76-211, -238, -241) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and the delivered record must be retainable. Electronic landlord delivery also needs affirmative informed consent, paper-copy/withdrawal rights, access demonstration, and fallback rules (§§ 86-632, -634, -635; 76-1413) |
No general executed-lease-copy duty located. At/before tenancy, landlord gives written name/address of manager and owner/process-notice agent and keeps it current; noncomplier becomes statutory agent for process, duties, and rent use (§ 76-1417) |
No separate form for every change; test a renewal or extension against the >1-year/from-making lines. Creation, grant, assignment, or surrender of a covered interest follows § 36-103; recording formalities apply to leases >1 year (§§ 36-103, -105; 76-211) |
Lease >1 year follows signed, acknowledged/proved recording form. Unrecorded instrument valid between parties but void against creditors/later good-faith purchasers without notice who record first; special related-family possession rule for residential ≤4 units and >1-year leases (§§ 76-211, -238, -241) |
Covered unwritten lease is void under § 36-105. Missing acknowledgment/recording affects creditor/purchaser protection, not party validity. Missing § 76-1417 disclosure makes the noncomplier statutory agent (§§ 36-105; 76-1417; 76-238) |
| Nevada verified 2026-07-30 | NRS 111.205–.220, .240, .310–.325; NRS 118A.160, .200; NRS 719.200–.250; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if term >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making; oral residential rental agreements recognized below those lines (NRS 111.205, .210, .220; 118A.160) |
Every written residential agreement signed by landlord/agent and tenant/agent. A >1-year land interest is subscribed by creating party or lawful agent authorized in writing (NRS 118A.200(1); 111.205) |
No witness or notary for party-to-party validity. Certain 1–4-unit leases need an oversized first-page disclosure if no licensed property manager signs; lease remains valid without notarization. Acknowledgment/proof is needed to record (NRS 118A.200(4), (10); 111.240, .310) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and record must be retainable and accurately reproducible. Later default, foreclosure, eviction, or cure notices for a primary residence cannot rely on UETA electronic delivery (NRS 719.200, .220, .240, .250) |
Landlord gives 1 free copy of any written agreement at execution; extra copies on tenant request within a reasonable time, with reasonable fee allowed. No general executed-copy duty for an oral agreement (NRS 118A.200(2)) |
No separate lease-specific renewal rule; a renewal, extension, or modification crossing the >1-year or 1-year-from-making tests needs writing. Assignment or surrender of the covered land interest follows the written-conveyance rule (NRS 111.205, .210, .220) |
Acknowledged/proved instrument may be recorded; valid between parties without recording, but recording gives notice and an unrecorded interest loses to a later good-faith purchaser for value who records first. No lease-term threshold or lease-specific memorandum stated (NRS 111.310, .315, .320, .325) |
Covered unwritten lease/agreement is void. Using a written rental agreement that does not conform to § 118A.200 is unlawful, and a contravening provision is void; late copy delivery is not stated to void the lease. Nonrecording affects later-purchaser priority, not original-party validity (NRS 111.210, .220; 118A.200(9); 111.315, .325) |
| New Hampshire verified 2026-07-30 | RSA 294-E:3, :5, :7, :8; 477:3, :7, :7-a; 506:2; 540:1; 540-A:1; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Writing required when agreement cannot be performed within 1 year from making; otherwise oral tenancy may exist. Tenancy defaults to at will unless a different contract is shown (RSA 506:2; 540:1) |
Covered writing signed by party to be charged or an authorized person. For >7-year third-party effect, lease/conveyance is signed by grantor; notice of lease is executed by all lease parties (RSA 506:2; 477:3, :7-a) |
No witness/notary for ordinary between-party enforceability. Lease >7 years needs acknowledgment + recordation for broader effect; notice alternative needs all-party acknowledgment but no witnesses (RSA 477:7, :7-a) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and delivered record must remain printable or storable (RSA 294-E:3, :5, :7, :8) |
No general executed-lease-copy deadline or lease-specific owner/manager written-statement duty located for an ordinary private tenancy in current RSA chs. 540 and 540-A |
No blanket same-form rule for every change; apply the 1-year-from-making test to the revised deal. Recorded notice of lease must state all extension and renewal rights (RSA 506:2; 477:7-a) |
Lease >7 years from making: acknowledge + record or it binds only grantor and heirs. All-party acknowledged notice may replace full lease and states term plus extension/renewal rights (RSA 477:7, :7-a) |
Covered unsigned/unwritten agreement cannot be enforced by action; absent a different contract, tenancy is at will. Unacknowledged/unrecorded >7-year lease has only the limited grantor-and-heirs effect stated in RSA 477:7 (RSA 506:2; 540:1) |
| New Jersey verified 2026-07-29 | N.J.S.A. §§ 25:1-12, 12A:12-3 to -12, -21, 46:8-29, 46:8-44 to -49, 46:26A-2, -3, -12; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Lease >3 years: signed writing establishing premises, term, lessor, and lessee, OR clear-and-convincing proof of those facts (§ 25:1-12) |
Writing route: signed by or on behalf of party against whom enforcement is sought; statute does not require both signatures or written agent authority (§ 25:1-12(a)) |
No witness/notary for ordinary validity; recordable lease or memorandum must bear a signature and be acknowledged or proved (§§ 25:1-12, 46:26A-3(a)) |
Allowed by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, with attribution, retainability, retention, and consumer-consent rules (§§ 12A:12-5, -7 to -9, -12, -21) |
No general executed-lease-copy deadline found. Registration certificate at new tenancy; amendment within 7 days. Covered landlord: current Truth-in-Renting statement at/before occupancy and posted (§§ 46:8-29, -44, -46) |
Renewal or extension creating a term >3 years is tested under § 25:1-12; no separate general statutory form rule stated for shorter changes |
Lease or memorandum for life or term ≥2 years may be recorded; signed and acknowledged/proved document gives notice and priority protection (§§ 46:26A-2(c), -3, -12) |
>3-year lease is unenforceable absent either statutory proof route; nonrecording affects notice/priority, not stated party validity; Truth-in-Renting violation carries up to $100 per offense (§§ 25:1-12, 46:26A-12, 46:8-47) |
| New York verified 2026-07-30 | N.Y. GOL §§ 5-701, 5-703; State Technology Law §§ 304-305; RPL §§ 290-291, 291-c, 298; ETPA § 10(c); ordinary private dwelling lease |
Writing required for lease term >1 year and for agreement not performable within 1 year after making; lease ≤1 year is excluded from RPL-interest writing rule (GOL §§ 5-701(a)(1), 5-703(1)-(2)) |
Subscribed by person creating/transferring/surrendering the interest or by party to be charged; agent authority must be written. Both signatures are required only for a recordable memorandum (GOL § 5-703; RPL § 291-c) |
No witness/notary for basic validity. Recording a >3-year lease or memorandum requires acknowledgment or proof; notary is one authorized in-state officer (RPL §§ 290-291, 291-c, 298) |
Unless law specifically provides otherwise, electronic signature may replace hand signature with same validity/effect; electronic record has same force/effect as nonelectronic record (State Technology Law §§ 304(2), 305(3)) |
No general statewide executed-copy deadline in cited ordinary-lease statutes. For ETPA-covered premises, owner must provide fully executed new/renewal lease copy with both signatures and term dates within 30 days after receiving tenant-signed lease (ETPA § 10(c)) |
Creation, assignment, or surrender of covered interest and a lease >1 year require signed writing; >3-year recordable memorandum must state extension/renewal maximum and exercise dates. ETPA renewal-copy rule applies to covered premises (GOL § 5-703; RPL § 291-c) |
Lease >3 years is a recordable conveyance; all-party signed, acknowledged/proved memorandum may be recorded instead. Unrecorded conveyance is void against later good-faith valuable purchaser/exchange acquirer whose instrument is first recorded (RPL §§ 290-291, 291-c) |
Covered agreement/lease is void without required writing/subscription, subject to court's preserved part-performance power. Missing record loses stated third-party priority, not ordinary party-to-party validity; ETPA § 10(c) states copy duty but no separate consequence (GOL §§ 5-701, 5-703; RPL § 291) |
| North Carolina verified 2026-07-29 | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 22-2, 42-38 to -46, 47-1, 47-14, 47-17, 47-18, 47-118, 66-313, 66-315, 66-317 to -318, 66-321 to -322; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if lease exceeds 3 years from making; exactly 3 years is outside this statutory line (§ 22-2) |
Signed by party to be charged or another person lawfully authorized; statute does not separately require written agent authority (§ 22-2) |
No witness/notary for ordinary validity; registration requires lessor/executing person's acknowledgment or signature proof by ≥1 witness (§§ 47-1, 47-17) |
Allowed when both parties agree; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and must remain retainable. UETA excludes specified default/eviction/cure notices for a primary residence (§§ 66-313, -315, -317 to -318) |
No general executed-copy deadline or basic landlord-information statement in current Residential Rental Agreements Article (§§ 42-38 to -46) |
Renewal/extension exceeding 3 years from making must satisfy § 22-2; recordable memorandum must state term including extensions, renewals, and purchase options (§ 47-118) |
Lease >3 years must be registered to prevail against lien creditors/purchasers; full lease or statutory memorandum works. Priority follows registration order (§§ 47-18, 47-118) |
Covered lease is void without required writing/signature; unregistered >3-year lease is ineffective against lien creditors/purchasers until registration; registration fails as to unexecuted/unproved parties (§§ 22-2, 47-14(d), 47-18) |
| North Dakota verified 2026-07-30 | N.D.C.C. §§ 9-06-04; 47-10-01; 47-16-01, -05 to -07.2; 9-09-06; 9-16-02, -04, -06, -07; 47-19-01, -03, -41 to -43, -46; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Lease >1 year must be written; § 9-06-04 also reaches an agreement not performable within 1 year from making. Unexpressed realty term is presumed 1 year (§§ 9-06-04, 47-10-01, 47-16-05) |
Party to be charged subscribes; if that party's agent makes the agreement, authority is written and subscribed by that party. Disposing party or agent authorized in writing also subscribes the transfer (§§ 9-06-04, 47-10-01) |
No witness/notary stated for between-party validity. Recording requires acknowledgment or statutory proof; document and acknowledgment generally need original signatures, subject to certified tangible-copy route (§§ 47-19-03, 44-06.1-18) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required e-delivery must remain printable or storable; blocked retention makes record unenforceable against recipient (§§ 9-16-02, -04, -06, -07) |
No general executed-lease-copy duty found. At rental-agreement formation, landlord must provide a premises-condition statement agreed to and signed by landlord and tenant; it is prima facie condition proof (§ 47-16-07.2) |
Written contract changes only by writing or executed oral agreement. Residential holdover + accepted rent becomes month-to-month unless automatic-renewal clause; clause for specified term ≥2 months needs ≥30-day written reminder. Month-to-month changes need ≥30-day written notice (§§ 9-09-06, 47-16-06 to -07) |
No lease-duration cutoff stated: any instrument affecting possession may record. Written lease is a conveyance; nonrecording can lose to later good-faith purchaser for value, attachment, or judgment, but remains valid between parties/those with notice (§§ 47-19-01, -41 to -43, -46) |
Covered unwritten or improperly subscribed lease is invalid; estate >1 year cannot transfer without § 47-10-01 instrument. Missing automatic-renewal reminder makes clause unenforceable and converts expired lease to month-to-month. Nonrecording affects protected third parties, not original parties |
| Ohio verified 2026-07-29 | R.C. 1335.04–.05, 1306.02, .04, .06–.07, .10, 5301.01, .08, .25, .251, .33, 5321.01, .18; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Signed writing if not performable within 1 year after making (§ 1335.05); >3-year lease also follows § 5301.01 execution; term ≤3 years needs no acknowledgment/recording (§ 5301.08) |
Covered writing signed by party to be charged or authorized signer (§ 1335.05); lease >3 years signed and acknowledged by lessor (§§ 5301.01, .08) |
No witnesses; >3-year lease needs lessor acknowledgment before listed officer. Term ≤3 years needs no acknowledgment (§§ 5301.01, .08) |
Allowed by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, retainable delivery required, and e-notarial signature can satisfy acknowledgment (§§ 1306.04, .06–.07, .10) |
No general executed-copy deadline; written lease must contain owner/agent names and addresses. Oral tenancy: written notice with that information at commencement (§ 5321.18) |
Renewal/change follows 1-year writing and 3-year acknowledgment lines; recorded lease may be canceled, released, or assigned by signed endorsement or acknowledged separate instrument (§ 5301.33) |
Term ≤3 years need not be recorded. Longer lease or executed memorandum may be recorded; unrecorded instrument is fraudulent as to later BFP without knowledge (§§ 5301.08, .25, .251) |
No action on covered unsigned agreement; >3-year lease is not properly executed without lessor acknowledgment; nonrecording affects later BFPs without knowledge, not stated party validity (§§ 1335.05, 5301.01, .25) |
| Oklahoma verified 2026-07-30 | 15 O.S. § 136; 16 O.S. §§ 4, 15; 41 O.S. §§ 2, 116; 12A O.S. §§ 15-103, 15-105, 15-107, 15-108; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Writing/memorandum required for lease >1 year (§ 136); conveyance of real-estate interest other than lease ≤1 year must be written and subscribed by grantors (16 O.S. § 4(A)) |
Subscribed by party to be charged or agent; agent authority must be written (§ 136). Property instrument subscribed by grantors; >1-year exempt-homestead lease requires both spouses if statutory conditions apply (16 O.S. § 4(A)) |
No acknowledgment/recording needed between parties. For >1-year third-person effect, lease must be acknowledged and recorded; ≤1-year lease plus actual possession is excepted (16 O.S. § 15) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and electronically delivered required writing must remain printable or storable (12A O.S. §§ 15-103, 15-105, 15-107, 15-108) |
No general executed-copy duty in cited statutes. Rental agreement must prominently identify written service contact; written manager and owner/owner-agent information due at or before tenancy starts and kept current (41 O.S. § 116) |
After premises are let ≥1 year, assented holdover becomes tenancy at will; lease/rental contract is not continued unless original was written, and other contracts expire with calendar year (41 O.S. § 2) |
Lease >1 year is not valid against third persons unless acknowledged and recorded. Lease ≤1 year accompanied by actual possession is exempt; between parties recording is unnecessary (16 O.S. § 15) |
Covered oral/unsigned lease is invalid (§ 136; 16 O.S. § 4). Unacknowledged/unrecorded >1-year lease lacks third-person effect (§ 15). Section 116 failure makes person a landlord and statutory agent |
| Oregon verified 2026-07-30 | ORS 41.580, 90.220, 93.020, 93.640, 93.710, 84.007, 84.013, 84.019, 84.070; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Writing/memorandum expressing consideration required for lease >1 year and agreement not performable within 1 year after making (ORS 41.580(1)(a), (e)); real-property lease >1 year also falls under ORS 93.020(1) |
Subscribed by party to be charged or authorized agent; property interest instrument is subscribed by party creating/transferring it or lawful agent under written authority (ORS 41.580(1), (f); 93.020(1)) |
No witness/notary for party-to-party enforcement. A recordable lease or memorandum must be signed by person from whom interest passes and acknowledged or proved like a deed (ORS 93.710(1), (3)(a)) |
E-record/signature allowed by party agreement (ORS 84.007, 84.013, 84.019). Electronic delivery of required consumer copy needs affirmative consent, disclosures, access proof, and retainable/reproducible form (ORS 84.070(2), (8)) |
Landlord must provide tenant a copy of every written rental agreement and all amendments/additions; statute states no delivery deadline and does not say fully executed copy (ORS 90.220(3)) |
Fixed term cannot be unilaterally amended; landlord must copy all amendments/additions. Renewal/extension crossing the one-year tests needs the same signed writing (ORS 90.220(2)-(3); 41.580(1)(a), (e)) |
No lease-term threshold: record full lease or signed, acknowledged/proved memorandum. Recording gives third-person notice; unrecorded interest can lose to later good-faith purchaser for value recording first (ORS 93.710; 93.640) |
Covered oral/unsigned agreement is void and evidence is barred except permitted writing/secondary evidence (ORS 41.580). Copy section states no specific remedy. Nonrecording affects later good-faith purchaser priority, not stated party-to-party validity (ORS 93.640) |
| Pennsylvania verified 2026-07-29 | Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 §§ 201–203; Electronic Transactions Act §§ 104, 301, 303–304, 901–903; 1959 Act 86 §§ 1–5; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Term ≤3 years may be oral or written; term >3 years must be written and signed (§§ 201–202) |
>3-year lease signed by the parties making it; landlord/tenant agents must be lawfully authorized in writing (§ 202) |
No witness/notary for validity under §§ 201–203; recording requires lessor's lawful acknowledgment (1959 Act 86 §§ 1–2) |
E-record/signature satisfy writing/signature if parties agree; a nonelectronic consumer contract needs separate express acknowledgment of any e-transaction clause (§§ 301, 303, 901) |
No general executed-lease-copy deadline or basic-information statement duty located in the complete current Landlord and Tenant Act |
Renewal/extension creating a >3-year term follows § 202; assignment, grant, or surrender of a >3-year lease must be signed writing (§ 203) |
Recording optional; full lease or all-party-signed memorandum, acknowledged by lessor. Recording gives constructive notice to later purchasers, mortgagees, and judgment creditors (1959 Act 86 §§ 1–5) |
Unwritten/unsigned >3-year lease has effect only as tenancy at will; recognized tenancy continuing >1 year becomes year-to-year. Nonrecording forfeits Act 86 constructive notice, not stated party validity (§ 202; Act 86 §§ 4–5) |
| Rhode Island verified 2026-07-30 | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-11-1; 34-12-1; 34-13-2; 34-18-11, -16, -20; 42-127.1-3, -5, -7, -8; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Oral lease term ≤1 year expressly valid. Term >1 year needs written, duly signed lease. Conduct can cure one missing signature/delivery, but any stated term >1 year is effective only 1 year (§§ 34-11-1, 34-18-11, -16) |
Long lease is duly signed. If one side signs/delivers and the other accepts rent or possession + pays rent without reservation, agreement has same effect as that side's signature/delivery, subject to 1-year cap (§ 34-18-16) |
No witness stated for between-party execution. Long-lease recording requires acknowledgment; ordinary RI acknowledgment is by all parties executing the instrument (§§ 34-11-1, 34-12-1) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required e-delivery must remain printable or storable; blocked retention makes record unenforceable against recipient (§§ 42-127.1-3, -5, -7, -8) |
No general executed-lease-copy deadline found. At/before commencement, landlord must give in writing manager and owner/service-agent name, address, and number and keep it current (§ 34-18-20) |
Renewal/extension >1 year follows signed-writing rule; conduct-only agreement is capped at 1 year. Recorded memorandum states duration, renewal options, and purchase options (§§ 34-11-1, 34-18-16) |
Lease >1 year: acknowledge + record full lease or written memorandum in town/city land evidence records. Memorandum names parties charged, describes land, and states duration/renewal/purchase options. Nonrecording leaves delivered lease valid between parties and against those with notice (§§ 34-11-1, 34-13-2) |
Long conveyance is void absent required signed writing; delivered but unacknowledged/unrecorded lease remains valid in § 34-11-1's listed relationships. Conduct-cured longer term shrinks to 1 year. Missing § 34-18-20 disclosure creates statutory agency |
| South Carolina verified 2026-07-30 | S.C. Code §§ 27-35-10, -20, -60; §§ 27-40-110, -320, -420; § 32-3-10; §§ 26-6-30, -50, -70, -80; §§ 30-5-30, 30-7-10; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Oral tenancy allowed through 1 year; agreement to use or occupy real estate for >1 year is void unless written. Agreement not performable within 1 year after making also needs signed writing (§§ 27-35-10, -20; 32-3-10(5)) |
Statute-of-frauds memorandum signed by party to be charged or a lawfully authorized person (§ 32-3-10). Acceptance of rent, possession, and payment can give an unsigned/undelivered written rental agreement effect, capped at 1 year (§ 27-40-320) |
No witness/notary for validity under §§ 27-35-20 and 32-3-10. To record, the instrument must be acknowledged or proved through a statutory route (§ 30-5-30) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and delivered record must remain printable or storable. Primary-residence default, eviction, and cure notices are excluded (§§ 26-6-30, -50, -70, -80) |
No general executed-copy deadline stated. At/before commencement, landlord or authorized leasing person must give written owner/service-agent name and address and keep it current; failure creates statutory agency (§ 27-40-420) |
Renewal/extension >1 year, or not performable within 1 year after making, follows the writing rules. Sublease without landlord's written consent is a nullity as to landlord's rights (§§ 27-35-20, -60; 32-3-10) |
Written lease >12 months affects later creditors or purchasers for value without notice only from recording in the land county; recordable instrument needs acknowledgment or proof (§§ 30-5-30, 30-7-10) |
Longer-than-1-year agreement is void unless written; no action on covered unsigned agreement. Performance cure cannot extend term beyond 1 year; nonrecording affects specified third persons; disclosure failure creates agency (§§ 27-35-20, 27-40-320, -420, 32-3-10, 30-7-10) |
| South Dakota verified 2026-07-30 | SDCL §§ 43-32-1, -4, -5, -13 to -15; 53-8-2, -7; 53-12-2, -3, -7, -8, -13 to -17, -19; 43-28-1, -8, -14, -15, -17; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Lease >1 year must be written. § 53-8-2 also reaches a lease >1 year and any agreement not performable within 1 year from making. Unspecified lodging term follows rent interval, or monthly if none (§§ 43-32-4, -5; 53-8-2) |
Validity statute: lessor signs, or lessor's agent authorized in writing. Enforcement statute: party to be charged subscribes, or that party's agent authorized in writing (§§ 43-32-5, 53-8-2) |
No witness/notary stated for between-party validity. Before recording, execution ordinarily must be acknowledged by signer or proved and certified (§ 43-28-8) |
Allowed when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature. Required e-delivery must remain printable or storable; blocked retention makes record unenforceable against recipient (§§ 53-12-2/-3/-7/-8/-13 to -17/-19) |
No general landlord duty to deliver an executed lease copy or basic written tenancy statement found in current SDCL ch. 43-32 |
Written contract altered only by written contract or executed oral agreement. Month-to-month landlord changes need ≥30 days' written notice; tenant may terminate within 15 days. Holdover + accepted rent renews same terms/time, capped at 1 year (§§ 53-8-7, 43-32-13 to -15) |
Lease >1 year: acknowledge/prove and record written instrument in county. Unrecorded instrument remains valid between parties/those with notice but is void against later good-faith purchaser or encumbrancer for value who records first (§§ 43-28-1, -8, -14, -15, -17) |
Lease >1 year is invalid without § 43-32-5 writing/lessor signature; § 53-8-2 separately makes covered contract unenforceable by action without party-to-be-charged subscription. Nonrecording affects later protected purchasers/encumbrancers, not original parties |
| Tennessee verified 2026-07-29 | T.C.A. §§ 29-2-101, 47-10-103/-105/-107/-108/-111, 66-7-101, 66-24-101, 66-26-101/-103; URLTA §§ 66-28-102/-104/-302 where county population >75,000; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Signed writing if lease >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making; lease >3 years independently must be written. URLTA recognizes written or oral rental agreements in covered counties (§§ 29-2-101, 66-7-101, 66-28-104) |
Covered writing/memorandum signed by party charged or lawfully authorized signer; >3-year registration instrument must be acknowledged/proved under recording law (§§ 29-2-101, 66-24-101(e)) |
No witness/notary for validity between original parties. Proof/acknowledgment is required for registration; unacknowledged instrument otherwise validly registered is statutorily cured (§§ 66-7-101, 66-24-101(e)) |
Allowed only by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, delivery must be retainable, and e-notarial signature can satisfy acknowledgment (§§ 47-10-103, -105, -107, -108, -111) |
No general executed-copy duty found. URLTA counties: written manager/owner address plus maintenance phone/email or communication portal by commencement; failure creates service/notice agency (§§ 66-28-102, -302; 2024 Pub. Ch. 907) |
Renewal/extension must meet >1-year or one-year-performance signed-writing rule if covered; no separate shorter-modification execution form in surveyed provisions (§ 29-2-101) |
Lease >3 years: prove/register full lease or summary/abstract; until registration, effect is limited to parties and actual-notice persons and instrument is void against specified creditors/BFPs without notice (§§ 66-7-101, 66-24-101(a)(15), 66-26-101/-103) |
No action on covered unwritten/unsigned lease. Unregistered >3-year lease loses stated third-party effect but works between parties; URLTA disclosure failure makes nondiscloser landlord's agent for service/notices (§§ 29-2-101, 66-26-101/-103, 66-28-302) |
| Texas verified 2026-07-29 | Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §§ 26.01, 322.003–.008; Tex. Prop. Code §§ 5.021, 12.001–.0011, 13.001–.002, 92.024; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written if term >1 year or agreement cannot be performed within 1 year after making (§ 26.01(b)(5)–(6); Prop. Code § 5.021) |
Signed by person to be charged or lawfully authorized signer; conveyance rule requires conveyor/agent, with agent authority written (§ 26.01(a); Prop. Code § 5.021) |
No witness/notary for validity; acknowledgment, jurat, or lawful proof required for recording (Prop. Code §§ 12.001, 26.01) |
Allowed only when both parties agree; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, and delivered record must be printable or storable (§§ 322.005, .007–.008) |
Within 3 business days after every party signs, give ≥1 tenant a complete copy; other tenant gets copy within 3 business days after written request (§ 92.024(a)–(b), (e)) |
No separate statutory form identified; renewal/extension must satisfy § 26.01 if resulting promise is >1 year or not performable within 1 year after making |
Unrecorded lease remains binding on parties/heirs but is void against creditor or later purchaser for value without notice; proper recording gives public notice (§§ 13.001–.002) |
Covered oral/unsigned lease not enforceable. Copy failure does not invalidate lease; court abates covered enforcement other than nonpayment until copy supplied (§§ 26.01(a), 92.024(c)–(d)) |
| Utah verified 2026-07-30 | Utah Code §§ 25-5-1, -3, -4; 57-1-1; 57-3-101 to -103; 57-22-2, -4; 46-4-103, -105, -201, -202, -205; ordinary principal-residence rental |
Lease >1 year needs subscribed writing/memorandum (§ 25-5-3); agreement not performable within 1 year after making also needs signed writing (§ 25-5-4(1)(a)); lease ≤1 year excluded from § 25-5-1 |
Long lease subscribed by party making it—ordinarily owner/lessor—or agent with written authority (§ 25-5-3). Separate one-year-performance rule uses party-to-be-charged signature (§ 25-5-4) |
No witness/notary for party-to-party lease validity. Recording requires a certificate of acknowledgment, proof of execution, jurat, or qualifying notarial certificate (§ 57-3-101) |
Allowed by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and required e-copy must be printable or storable. E-acknowledgment is recognized, but county recorder need not accept e-instrument (§§ 46-4-103, -105, -201, -202, -205) |
At or before rental term begins, owner must give executed copy of written agreement, applicable rules, and written owner or authorized manager/contact information (§ 57-22-4(7)) |
Creating, assigning, surrendering, or declaring >1-year land interest requires subscribed writing and written agent authority; rental agreement definition includes modifications (§§ 25-5-1, 57-22-2) |
Lease >1 year is a Title 57 recordable document; proper record gives notice. Unrecorded document is void against later good-faith purchaser for value whose document records first; party validity unaffected (§§ 57-1-1, 57-3-101 to -103) |
Covered oral/unsigned agreements are void (§§ 25-5-3, -4); land interest is not created/assigned/surrendered under § 25-5-1. Missing § 57-22-4(7) copy/contact duty neither excuses renter performance nor creates private action; nonrecording affects later-purchaser priority |
| Vermont verified 2026-07-30 | 12 V.S.A. § 181; 27 V.S.A. §§ 302, 341–342; 9 V.S.A. §§ 272–288, 4451; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Action requires signed writing for deal not performable within 1 year or concerning land interest; oral rental agreement recognized, but oral land estate has at-will effect only (§§ 181, 302; § 4451(8)) |
Party charged or authorized person; land-interest agent authority in writing. Grant/assignment/surrender signed by grantor or attorney (§ 181; 27 V.S.A. § 302) |
No witness/notary for between-party effect; >1-year lease or recorded memorandum is signed by grantor and acknowledged before notary (§§ 341(a), (c), 342) |
Mutual agreement; e-record/signature work. Consumer e-delivery needs affirmative consent, disclosures, access demonstration, and retainable/reproducible record (§§ 274, 276–277, 287–288) |
No general executed-copy or basic written-statement duty in ch. 137; statute recognizes written or oral rental agreements (§ 4451(8)) |
Grant, assignment, or surrender of land interest must be signed writing; recorded memorandum states extension/renewal rights and assignment restrictions (§§ 302, 341(c)) |
Lease >1 year: acknowledge and record full lease or detailed notice/memorandum in town land records; otherwise effect only against grantor and heirs (§§ 341(c), 342) |
No action on covered unsigned agreement; oral land interest becomes estate at will; unrecorded >1-year lease cannot hold against others beyond grantor/heirs (§§ 181, 302, 342) |
| Virginia verified 2026-07-29 | Va. Code §§ 11-2, 55.1-101, 55.1-1200 to -1204, 55.1-407, 55.1-600, 55.1-1601, 59.1-481 to -490; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Landlord must offer writing; no offer creates 12-month tenancy by law. Lease >1 year or agreement not performable within 1 year needs signed writing to support an action (§§ 11-2(6), (8), 55.1-1204(B)-(C)) |
Written rental agreement effective when landlord and tenant sign; >1-year writing signed by party charged or agent (§§ 55.1-1200, 55.1-1204(B), 11-2) |
No witness/notary or deed form for validity; recording requires original signature plus acknowledgment or 2-witness proof (§§ 55.1-101(B), 55.1-600) |
Allowed by party agreement; standard-form e-consent term must be conspicuous and separately consented to. E-record/signature satisfy writing/signature; delivered record must remain printable or storable (§§ 59.1-483, -485, -486) |
Signed lease + tenant-rights statement within 10 business days; annual extra hard copy on request or easily accessible electronic copy. Copy failure does not invalidate lease (§ 55.1-1204(H)) |
No unilateral change valid unless required notice is given and both parties consent in writing; >1-year renewed term remains subject to § 11-2 (§ 55.1-1204(A), (I)) |
Lease memorandum may be recorded if both parties execute it in recordable-conveyance form; unrecorded written lease is void as to value purchasers without notice and lien creditors (§§ 55.1-407(A)(1), 55.1-1601) |
No action on covered oral/unsigned agreement; no written offer creates statutory 12-month tenancy. Copy failure leaves lease valid but restricts landlord's lease-violation action; nonrecording affects specified third persons (§§ 11-2, 55.1-1204(C), (H), 55.1-407) |
| Washington verified 2026-07-29 | RCW 19.36.010; 59.04.010-.020; 59.18.065, .210; 64.04.010-.020; 65.08.060-.070; ch. 1.80 RCW; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Year-to-year residential tenancy only by express written contract; term ≤1 year expressly valid without acknowledgment/witness/seal. Agreement not performable within 1 year needs signed writing (RCW 59.18.210; 19.36.010(1)) |
Covered writing signed by party charged or authorized person; >1-year residential conveyance follows the deed rule for signature and acknowledgment by the party bound as grantor. Executed copy goes to each tenant who signs (RCW 19.36.010; 59.18.065, .210; 64.04.020) |
Term ≤1 year: none. Term >1 year: residential acknowledgment rule preserved by 2024 ch. 27. Recording any lease/memorandum requires acknowledged landlord and tenant signatures (RCW 59.18.210; 64.04.010) |
Allowed by party agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, delivery must be retainable, and e-notarial signature can satisfy acknowledgment (RCW 1.80.040, .060, .070, .100) |
Executed copy to each tenant who signs; one free replacement during tenancy. Statute states no delivery deadline or specific copy-failure consequence (RCW 59.18.065) |
Year-to-year renewal/extension requires express writing; a change itself not performable within 1 year needs signed writing. No separate shorter-modification execution form in surveyed provisions (RCW 59.18.210; 19.36.010(1)) |
Priority framework excludes term ≤2 years. Lease >2 years: record acknowledged lease or memorandum; nonrecording loses to later good-faith value purchaser/mortgagee recording first (RCW 64.04.010; 65.08.060-.070) |
Covered unsigned agreement not performable within 1 year after making is void under statute of frauds; indefinite periodic occupancy is period-to-period. Copy statute gives no express consequence; unrecorded >2-year lease is void against specified later recorders (RCW 19.36.010; 59.04.020; 65.08.070) |
| West Virginia verified 2026-07-30 | W. Va. Code §§ 36-1-1, -3; 37-6A-1(3), (12); 39A-1-3, -5, -7, -8; 39-1-2; 40-1-8, -9; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written and signed for lease >1 year; term >5 years must be created/conveyed by deed. Residential rental agreement otherwise may be written, electronic, oral, express, or implied (§§ 36-1-1, -3; 37-6A-1(12)) |
>1-year writing signed by party charged or agent; statute states no separate written-agent-authority form. >5-year term uses deed; recordable memorandum executed by all lease parties (§§ 36-1-1, -3; 40-1-8) |
No witness/notary for ordinary party validity. Recording requires signer's acknowledgment or proof by 2 witnesses; lease memorandum must be acknowledged by all parties (§§ 39-1-2, 40-1-8) |
Electronic rental agreement expressly recognized. UETA applies when each party agrees; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature and delivered record must be retainable (§§ 37-6A-1(12); 39A-1-3, -5, -7, -8) |
No general executed-lease-copy or lease-specific written owner/manager statement located for an ordinary private dwelling lease |
No separate form for every change; renewal/extension crossing >1 year needs signed writing and >5 years needs deed. Recorded memorandum states maximum extension/renewal period and exercise dates (§§ 36-1-1, -3; 40-1-8) |
>5-year written real-estate term gains creditor/purchaser effect when recorded; until then covered contract/deed is void against creditors and later purchasers for value without notice. All-party acknowledged memorandum may be recorded and gives notice only of stated information (§§ 40-1-8, -9) |
>1-year unsigned/unwritten lease is unenforceable; >5-year term is not created/conveyed without deed. Missing recordation affects creditors and later purchasers, not the stated contract rule between original parties (§§ 36-1-1, -3; 40-1-9) |
| Wisconsin verified 2026-07-29 | Wis. Stat. §§ 704.01/.03, 706.001/.02/.03/.05/.08; Wis. Stat. ch. 137; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.01/.03; ordinary private dwelling lease outside ATCP 134.01 exclusions |
>1-year lease or contract to make one needs § 706.02-compliant conveyance plus rent, commencement, expiration, and definite premises, or both-party-signed writing with rent, duration, premises and possession-established start. ≤1 year outside ch. 706 (§§ 704.03(1), 706.001(2)(c)) |
>1-year lease signed for every party; alternative writing signed by landlord and tenant. Agent must be expressly authorized and identify principal. Each spouse signs if conveyance alienates married person's homestead interest (§§ 704.03(1), 706.02(1), 706.03(1m)) |
No witness, seal, acknowledgment, or notary needed to execute lease. Recorded instrument needs § 706.06/ch. 140 authentication, but recorder cannot reject for missing witnesses or seals (§§ 706.02, 706.05(2), (6)) |
Allowed with each party's agreement. E-record/signature satisfy writing/signature; delivered record must remain printable/storable. Primary-residence default, eviction, and cure notices excluded. Electronic authentication works if otherwise needed (§§ 137.12/.13/.15/.16/.19/.20) |
If agreement or landlord rules are written, landlord must furnish them for inspection before agreement and before earnest money/security deposit, then give copies at agreement. Rule covers private Wisconsin dwelling rentals subject to listed exclusions (ATCP 134.01, 134.03(1)) |
>1-year-unexpired assignment needs assignor-signed writing; assumption needs assignee-signed writing. Termination >1 year early needs both signatures; other early termination may be oral. Modification leaving >1 year remains in ch. 706 (§§ 704.03(3)-(4), 706.001(2)(c)) |
≤1-year lease is outside ch. 706 but recordable if in recordable form. Longer lease may be recorded in each land county with required signatures, authentication, and land identification. Unrecorded conveyance loses only to later good-faith purchaser for value recording first; no lease-specific memorandum alternative found (§§ 706.001(2)(c), 706.05, 706.08(1)(a)) |
Defective >1-year lease is unenforceable; residential entry plus monthly rent creates month-to-month tenancy. Other enforceable unsigned/oral agreement needs clear-and-convincing proof. Copy-rule pecuniary loss can support twice-loss recovery, costs, and attorney fees; nonrecording risks purchaser priority (§§ 704.03(2), (5), 100.20(5); ATCP 134 note; § 706.08) |
| Wyoming verified 2026-07-30 | W.S. §§ 1-21-1201 to -1211, 1-23-105, 34-1-102 to -121, 34-2-128 to -129, 40-21-101 to -119; ordinary private dwelling lease |
Written/subscribed if lease >1 year or agreement not performable within 1 year after making; residential rental agreement otherwise may be written or oral (§§ 1-23-105(a)(i), (v), 1-21-1201(a)(ii)) |
Initial covered writing: party to be charged; expired-lease renewal: both parties; >3-year conveyance: party from whom interest passes (§§ 1-23-105, 34-2-129, 34-1-106) |
No witness rule. Lease >3 years is a conveyance and must be acknowledged before a notarial officer; ≤3-year lease is excluded (§§ 34-1-102, -106, -113) |
Allowed by mutual agreement; e-record/signature satisfy writing/signature, delivery must be retainable, and electronic acknowledgment may work (§§ 40-21-105, -107, -108, -111) |
No general executed-copy or basic owner/payment-statement duty in complete residential article; rental agreement may be written or oral (§§ 1-21-1201 to -1211) |
No implied renewal after expiration; holdover plus accepted rent is tenancy at sufferance. Renewal requires express written contract signed by both parties (§§ 34-2-128 to -129) |
Lease >3 years enters conveyance regime; acknowledge and record in county where land lies. Unrecorded lease can lose to later good-faith purchaser for value recording first; no lease-memorandum alternative stated (§§ 34-1-102, -113, -118, -120) |
Covered unsigned agreement is void; unwritten post-expiration renewal creates only sufferance; unrecorded >3-year lease is void against specified later purchaser; nonretainable e-record is unenforceable against recipient (§§ 1-23-105, 34-2-128 to -129, 34-1-120, 40-21-108(c)) |
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