Many states require that landlords provide receipts for rent payments. This might be in all situations, or just in some, like when the tenant pays with cash. In a majority of states, landlords may choose whether or not to provide receipts for rent payments.
Which States Require a Rent Receipt?
In addition to the state requirement, check local laws, which may be different. For example, Ohio state law does not require receipts, but some cities, including Columbus and Cincinnati, require that landlords provide receipts for rent payments.
| State | Receipt Required? | Receipt Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| California | Upon request | None |
| Colorado | For cash or money order | Landlords must provide paper copies by request |
| Connecticut | For cash payments | Must include date, amount, and purpose |
| Delaware | For cash payments | Landlords must keep a record of cash payments for at least 3 years |
| Hawaii | Always required | None |
| Maine | For cash payments | Must include signature and name of who receives payment, amount, purpose, date, and tenant’s name |
| Maryland | For cash or upon request, outside Anne Arundel County | (Anne Arundel County only) Must show payment amount and time period receipt covers |
| Massachusetts | For last month’s rent prepaid | None |
| Minnesota | For cash payments | None |
| Nevada | Upon request (most tenancies) Always required (mobile homes) |
Issued within 5 days of payment, including amount and date (mobile homes) |
| New Jersey | For cash or during eviction | Must include amount, purpose, date, and names of tenant and landlord |
| New York | Always required | Must include date, amount, name or address of property, rental period, and signature/title of who receives rent |
| Oregon | Upon request | Must include date, amount, and information identifying landlord of the rental property |
| Texas | For cash payments | None for tenant’s receipt, but landlord also must record payment date and amount in a separate ledger |
| Virginia | Upon request when paying with cash or money order | None |
| Washington | For cash or upon request | None |
| Washington D.C. | For all payments except personal checks | Must include outstanding late fees, court costs, and other charges, plus amount, purpose, and date |
| Wisconsin | For cash payments | Must include amount and purpose |
Sources
- 1 Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 2075
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Whoever pays money, or delivers an instrument or property, is entitled to a receipt therefor from the person to whom the payment or delivery is made, and may demand a proper signature to such receipt as a condition of the payment or delivery.Source Link
- 2 Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-802
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Upon receiving any payment made in person by a tenant with cash or a money order, a landlord shall contemporaneously provide the tenant with a receipt indicating the amount the tenant paid and the date of payment. If the landlord receives a payment that is not delivered in person by the tenant with cash or a money order, if requested by the tenant, the landlord shall, within seven days after the request, provide the tenant with a receipt indicating the amount the tenant paid, the recipient, and the date of payment, unless there is already an existing procedure that provides a tenant with a record of the payment received that indicates the amount the tenant paid, the recipient, and the date of payment. A landlord may provide the tenant with an electronic receipt, unless the tenant requests a paper receipt, in which case the landlord shall provide the tenant with a paper receipt. For purposes of this section, a receipt may be included as part of a billing statement.
Source Link - 3 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3a
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Upon receipt of a payment in cash from or on behalf of an occupant, a landlord shall provide the person making the payment with a receipt stating the date of the payment, the amount received and the purpose for which the payment was made.
Source Link - 4 Del. Code tit. 25 § 5501
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If a landlord accepts a cash payment for rent, the landlord shall, within 15 days, give to the tenant a receipt for that payment. The landlord shall, for a period of 3 years, maintain a record of all cash receipts for rent.
Source Link - 5 Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-43(e)
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The landlord shall furnish to the tenant a written receipt for rents paid at the time of payment. Canceled checks shall also constitute and fulfill the requirement of a written receipt. If rent is paid by check, the landlord shall furnish a receipt therefor, provided a receipt is requested by the tenant.
Source Link - 6 Me. Stat. tit. 14 § 6022
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A landlord or his agent shall provide a written receipt, as required in subsection 2, for each rental payment and each security deposit payment received partially or fully in cash from any tenant. This receipt shall be delivered to the tenant at the time the cash payment is accepted. If either the rent or security deposit is accepted in more than one installment instead of a single payment, a separate receipt shall be provided for each payment. If the payment for rent and security deposit is received at the same time, a separate receipt, properly identified in accordance with subsection 2, shall be issued each for the rental payment and for the security deposit.
Source Link - 7 Md. Code, Real. Prop. § 8-205
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(a)(1) In Anne Arundel County, unless the tenant makes payment by check or rents the property for commercial or business purposes, if property is leased for any definite term or at will, the landlord shall give the tenant a receipt showing payment and the time period which the payment covers.
(2) On conviction of violating this section, any person or agent shall forfeit the rent for the period in question.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a) of this section, the landlord or landlord’s agent shall give the tenant a receipt if the tenant:
(1) Makes payment in cash; or
(2) Requests a receipt.
(c) In addition to any other penalty, the landlord shall be liable to the tenant in the sum of $25 if the landlord fails to provide a written receipt as required by this section.
Source Link - 8 940 CMR, § 3.17
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It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice for an owner to:
…
(b) fail to give to the tenant a written receipt indicating the amount of rent in advance for the last month of occupancy, and a written receipt indicating the amount of the security deposit, if any, paid by the tenant, in accordance with M.G.L. c. 186, s. 15B.
Source Link - 9 Minn. Stat. § 504B.118
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A landlord receiving rent or other payments from a tenant in cash must provide a written receipt for payment immediately upon receipt if the payment is made in person, or within three business days if payment in cash is not made in person.
Source Link - 10 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.250
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The landlord shall deliver to the tenant upon the tenant’s request a signed written receipt for the security deposit or surety bond, or a combination thereof, and any other payments, deposits or fees, including rent, paid by the tenant and received by the landlord. The tenant may refuse to make rent payments until the landlord tenders the requested receipt.
Source Link - 11 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118B.073
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Upon payment of the periodic rent by a tenant of a manufactured home park, the landlord of that park shall issue to the tenant a receipt which indicates the amount and the date of the payment. The landlord shall issue the receipt as soon as practicable after payment, but not later than 5 days after the landlord receives payment.
Source Link - 12 N.J. Stat. § 46:8-49.2
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a. A landlord shall provide a receipt, either printed or emailed, to a tenant for each cash payment made to the landlord for any amount due to the landlord pursuant to a residential lease, renewal, or extension agreement. The receipt shall accurately indicate the amount of the payment, the purpose of the payment, when the payment was received, the printed or typed names of both the landlord and tenant, and who accepted the payment.
b. A landlord who violates this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of section 5 of P.L. 1975, c.310 (C.46:8-47), except that the penalty shall be $100 more for a second violation by a landlord within a five-year period, and the penalty shall be $200 more for each subsequent violation by a landlord within a five-year period.
c. It shall be a valid defense in any action or proceeding against a tenant to recover possession of real property for the nonpayment of rent that the landlord violated this section with respect to the months in which the violation or violations occurred.
Source Link - 13 N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 2200.14
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(a) No payment of rent need be made unless the landlord tenders a receipt. The landlord shall issue to every tenant a rent receipt at the time of each rental payment in the form of cash, or any instrument other than the personal check of the tenant. The written receipt shall contain the date; the amount; the identity of the premises and period for which paid; and the signature and title of the person receiving the rent.
(b) A tenant may request, in writing, that a landlord provide a receipt for rent paid by personal check. If such request is made, the landlord shall provide the tenant with the receipt described in section a of this subdivision. Such request shall, unless otherwise specified by the tenant, remain in effect for the duration of the tenancy.
(c) The landlord shall maintain a record of all cash receipts for rent for at least three years unless a longer period is required by other provisions of this Title.
(d) If a payment of rent is personally transmitted to a landlord, the receipt for such payment shall be issued immediately to a tenant. If a payment of rent is transmitted indirectly to a landlord, a tenant shall be provided with a receipt within fifteen days of the landlord’s receipt of a rent payment.
(e) If a landlord fails to receive payment for rent within five days of the date specified in a lease agreement, such landlord shall send the tenant, by certified mail, a written notice stating the failure to receive such rent payment. The failure of the landlord, to provide a tenant with a written notice of the non-payment of rent may be used as an affirmative defense by such tenant in an eviction proceeding based on the non-payment of rent.
Source Link - 14 ORS § 90.140(2)
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A tenant who requests a writing that evidences the tenant’s payment is entitled to receive that writing from the landlord as a condition for making the payment. The writing may be a receipt, statement of the tenant’s account or other acknowledgment of the tenant’s payment. The writing must include the amount paid, the date of payment and information identifying the landlord or the rental property. If the tenant makes the payment by mail, deposit or a method other than in person and requests the writing, the landlord shall within a reasonable time provide the tenant with the writing in a manner consistent with ORS 90.150.
Source Link - 15 Tex. Prop. Code § 92.011
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A landlord who receives a cash rental payment shall:
(1) provide the tenant with a written receipt; and
(2) enter the payment date and amount in a record book maintained by the landlord.
Source Link - 16 Va. Code § 55.1-1204
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The landlord shall provide the tenant with a written receipt, upon request from the tenant, whenever the tenant pays rent in the form of cash or money order.
Source Link - 17 Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.063
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(1) A landlord must accept a personal check, cashier’s check, or money order for any payment of rent made by a tenant, except that a landlord is not required to accept a personal check from any tenant that has had a personal check written to the landlord or the landlord’s agent that has been returned for nonsufficient funds or account closure within the previous nine months. A landlord must also allow for the tenant to submit a rental payment by mail unless the landlord provides an accessible, on-site location.
(2) A landlord may refuse to accept cash for any payment of rent made by a tenant, but shall provide a receipt for any payment made by a tenant in the form of cash when the landlord accepts cash.
(3) A landlord shall provide, upon the request of a tenant, a written receipt for any payments made by the tenant in a form other than cash.
Source Link - 18 D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, r. 14-306
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306.1 In each lease or rental of a habitation, the owner shall provide written receipts for all monies paid to him or her by the tenant as rent, security, or otherwise, unless the payment is made by personal check.
306.2 Each receipt issued under this section shall state the following:
(a) The exact amount received;
(b) The date the monies are received; and
(c) The purpose of the payment.
306.3 Each receipt shall also state any amounts still due which are attributable to late charges, court costs, or any other such charge in excess of rent.
306.4 If payment is made by personal check, and there is a balance still due which is attributable to late charges, court costs, or any other such charge in excess of rent, the owner shall provide a receipt stating the nature of the charges and the amount due.
306.5 The provisions of this section shall not be subject to any notice requirement of this subtitle.
Source Link - 19 Wis. Admin. Code ATCP § ATCP 134.03(2)(b)
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If a tenant pays rent in cash, the landlord upon receiving the cash payment shall provide the tenant with a written receipt stating the nature and amount of the payment. A landlord is not required to provide a receipt for rent payments made by check.
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