Arizona Eviction Process: Notice Periods, Timeline & Tenant Defenses (2026)

How eviction works step by step, and what defenses you have at each stage

At a glance

• Notice required before filing: 5 or 10 or 30 days, depending on the grounds
• Court required: Yes — possession is recovered through court, not by self-help
• Governing statute: A.R.S. § 33-1368

Who this covers — and who it does not

This page covers the eviction process in Arizona for a residential tenancy — the notices a landlord must serve, the timeline, and what you can do at each stage.

It does not cover commercial leases, or mobile home parks where a separate statute applies. Where a city has its own rules, those may differ from the state statute below.

What the statute actually says

A.R.S. § 33-1368 — 驱逐须经 special detainer 诉讼由法院判决，writ of restitution 执行；禁止自力救济。

亚利桑那驱逐是司法驱逐：房东须先送达法定通知，再向 Justice Court 提起 special detainer。房东不得自行换锁、断水电或搬物（33-1367）。

A.R.S. § 33-1368 ↗

Notice periods by grounds

How the process runs, step by step

1. 房东送达书面通知（5/10/30 天） (from 欠租/违约/租期届满). 欠租 5 天、重大违约 10 天、月租终止 30 天。
2. 房东向 Justice Court 提起 special detainer (from 通知期届满). 欠租案须附前 6 个月账目（RPEA 5(d)）。
3. 法院判决 + writ of restitution 执行 (from 判决). 仅法院可签发 writ，由 sheriff/constable 执行。

Can the landlord use self-help?

亚利桑那禁止自力救济：房东不得换锁、搬物或断水电；违者对租客承担 2 倍实际损害 + 律师费。

33-1367 明定房东擅自收回占有的责任；房东供应的水电仅可在 writ of restitution 执行次日起停供（33-1368）。

A.R.S. § 33-1367 ↗

Common landlord claims and how to answer them

Remedies for an illegal eviction

自力救济违者对租客承担 2 倍实际损害 + 律师费（33-1367）。

A.R.S. § 33-1367 ↗

Sources and how to verify them

Every figure on this page comes from the official text or a state court opinion, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked.

Statute	Last verified	Source
A.R.S. § 33-1368	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1368(B)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1368(A)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1375(B)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1368, 33-1375	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1377 (special detainer)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1377	2026-10-16	official text ↗
A.R.S. § 33-1367	2026-10-16	official text ↗

Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Where a provision admits of more than one reading, that is flagged rather than smoothed over.

When you need a lawyer instead of a tool

A self-help guide is the right starting point for understanding your position. Get legal help if:

• You have received an eviction notice — the timeline is now court-driven
• The dispute involves discrimination, unsafe conditions or retaliation
• Your landlord has filed anything in court already
• You are unsure whether a local ordinance changes the state rule

Local legal aid organisations and tenant unions offer free help for qualifying cases. They are independent of this site — we list them because they are the right place to go, not because they link here.

More Arizona guides

Arizona Security Deposit Return · Arizona Security Deposit Rules · Arizona Rent Increase Rules · Arizona Repairs & Habitability · Arizona Landlord Retaliation

→ All Arizona tenant rights topics

Common questions