How long does an eviction take in Arizona?
For unpaid rent, expect about 2.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 2 to 7 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Arizona actually earn?
We'll prefill Arizona's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,672/mo
- Property tax 0.43%–0.44%
- Insurance $636–$1,024/yr
- Vacancy 6.8%–7.2%
The Arizona eviction timeline
Each step comes from Arizona's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 2.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
5 days5 days to pay or move (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1368)
- 2
File and get a judgment
3–14 days · typical 6Trial is set 3 to 6 days after filing (up to 3-day postponement for good cause); tenant answers at trial
- 3
Judgment to lockout
5–10 daysNo writ of restitution until 5 calendar days after judgment
- 4
If the tenant appeals
5-day window5 calendar days to appeal; a supersedeas bond is required to stay the eviction
Can the tenant pay and stay? Before filing, paying all past-due rent and the lease's reasonable late fee reinstates the lease; after the case is filed, the tenant must also pay attorney fees and court costs, any time before judgment (A.R.S. § 33-1368(B)). official source Source ↗
Evicting in Phoenix? City rules add to the state rules. Phoenix eviction timeline, fees and protections →
What an eviction costs in Arizona
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found; most are set by county, so each one says where it applies. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Maricopa County Justice Courts$69Eviction complaint and summons $69 on the Maricopa County Justice Courts' all-inclusive schedule; other counties differ
Serving the tenant
statewide (A.R.S. § 11-445)$40Sheriff/constable statutory minimum to serve a summons: $16 per copy served + $16 minimum mileage + $8 affidavit of service (A.R.S. § 11-445(A)(1), (A)(16), (D), (G)); longer trips add $2.40/mile and private process servers set their own prices
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Maricopa County Justice Courts$125Writ of restitution $125, including constable service for the first 6 miles ($2.40 per mile beyond that)
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,672/moArizona median gross rent, ±$19. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Arizona scores 85 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Arizona eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Arizona?
A nonpayment eviction in Arizona typically takes about 2.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 2 to 7 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Arizona?
5 days to pay or move (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1368).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Arizona by paying the rent?
Before filing, paying all past-due rent and the lease's reasonable late fee reinstates the lease; after the case is filed, the tenant must also pay attorney fees and court costs, any time before judgment (A.R.S. § 33-1368(B)).
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Arizona?
The filing fee we found is $69 (Maricopa County Justice Courts). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Arizona?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Arizona costs a landlord roughly $1,700 to $2,700: about 2.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,672/month (about $1,000), court and service fees of about $234-$234, and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 7 weeks can pass $4,900. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Arizona landlord-friendly for evictions?
Arizona scores 85 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 47.9/50, right to cure 7/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Every field on this page has a source. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourceazleg.gov ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourceazleg.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourceazleg.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourceazcourts.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcejusticecourts.maricopa.gov ↗
- Service feeofficial sourceazleg.gov ↗
- Lockout feeofficial sourcejusticecourts.maricopa.gov ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourceazleg.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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