Rent Receipt Laws by State
There is no federal rule, but at least 15 states and Washington, D.C. have a rule that makes a landlord give a written rent receipt, most often when rent is paid in cash; in California a general rule lets anyone who pays a debt, rent included, ask for one. The table shows when each one applies and links to the statute.
Last reviewed: October 2026
| State | Receipt required | Law |
|---|---|---|
| California | On request (general rule for paying any debt) | Cal. Civil Code § 1499 |
| Colorado | In-person cash or money order; anything else on request | C.R.S. § 38-12-802 |
| Connecticut | Cash payments | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3a(c)-(d) |
| Delaware | Cash payments, within 15 days | 25 Del. C. § 5501(e) |
| District of Columbia | Every payment except a personal check | 14 DCMR § 306 (D.C. Housing Regulations) |
| Hawaii | Every payment (a canceled check counts) | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-43(e) |
| Maine | Cash payments (not small owner-occupied buildings) | 14 M.R.S. § 6022 |
| Maryland | Cash payments; any payment on request | Md. Code, Real Property § 8-205 |
| Minnesota | Cash payments | Minn. Stat. § 504B.118 (subd. 2 as renumbered by 2026 Minn. Laws ch. 81, § 2) |
| Nevada | Any payment, on request | NRS 118A.250 |
| New Jersey | Cash payments (most buildings with 3+ units) | N.J.S.A. 46:8-49.2 (P.L. 2019, c. 300, § 3) |
| New York | Cash, money order, cashier's check or anything but a personal check; personal checks on written request | N.Y. Real Property Law § 235-e |
| Oregon | Any payment, on request | ORS 90.140(2) |
| Texas | Cash payments, plus a landlord record book | Tex. Property Code § 92.011 |
| Virginia | Cash or money order | Va. Code § 55.1-1204(J)(1) and (D) |
| Washington | Cash payments; any other payment on request | RCW 59.18.063 |
| Wisconsin | Cash payments | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.03(2)(b) (administrative rule, enforced under Wis. Stat. § 100.20) |
States With a Receipt Rule for Deposits Only
- Massachusetts: Only for money paid at or before the start of a tenancy: a receipt at the time a security deposit or last month's rent in advance is paid, and a second receipt within 30 days after the deposit is received, naming the bank that holds it. There is no general rule for monthly rent. (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B)
City Rules
Some cities require rent receipts where their state does not.
| City | Receipt required | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, Ohio | Deposit and every rent payment once a deposit is paid (not personal checks) | Cincinnati Municipal Code § 871-9(a)(7) |
| Columbus, Ohio | Every rent payment and security deposit | Columbus City Code § 4551.05 (Ord. 0496-2021) |
States With No Rent Receipt Law
We read these states' landlord-tenant laws and found no duty to give a rent receipt. Each page says what the law does cover and what to put on a receipt anyway.
- Alaska: no receipt duty in Alaska Stat. ch. 34.03 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)
- Idaho: no receipt duty in Idaho Code §§ 6-301 to 6-324 (Landlord and Tenant)
Your State Isn't Listed?
We list a state or city only after reading its statute or ordinance. If yours isn't here, we haven't found a rent receipt rule for it, but a local ordinance or your lease may still require one. Giving a receipt for every payment is good practice anyway: it protects the landlord in a dispute and gives the tenant proof of payment for taxes or benefits.
Other Countries
- Canada: Canada has no national rent receipt law; it depends on the province. Ontario requires a free receipt on request, and British Columbia and Manitoba a receipt for rent paid in cash.
- United Kingdom: In England a landlord must provide a rent book when rent is paid weekly. In Scotland and Northern Ireland a landlord must give a written receipt for rent paid in cash.
General information, not legal advice. Each state's statute and each city's ordinance was read on the date shown on its page; laws change, so check the linked text.
Rent Receipt Law FAQ
Do landlords have to give rent receipts?
There is no federal rule. Several states require a written receipt, usually for rent paid in cash, and a few for every payment or whenever the tenant asks. Some cities, such as Columbus and Cincinnati in Ohio, add their own rule. The tables on this page list each state and city we have checked, with the law.
What should a rent receipt include?
The date, the amount, the rent period, the property address, the tenant's name and the landlord's or agent's name and signature. Some states list exactly what their receipts must show; see your state's page.
Do other countries have rent receipt laws?
Some do. In England a landlord must provide a rent book when rent is paid weekly, and Scotland and Northern Ireland require a written receipt for rent paid in cash. In Canada it depends on the province: Ontario requires a receipt on request, and British Columbia and Manitoba one for cash rent.