Cease and Desist Letter for Trespassing

A written no-trespass notice changes the legal character of someone entering your property. Before the letter, they can claim they did not know they were unwelcome. After it, every entry is a knowing violation, which is what police and courts look for before they will act.

Keep the letter simple: identify the property, revoke any permission they may claim to have, and state plainly that all future entry is prohibited.

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Sample letter

This is the exact structure your finished letter will follow, with placeholders where your facts go.

[Your Full Name] [Your Street Address] [City, State ZIP] [Date] [Recipient's Full Name] [Recipient's Street Address] [City, State ZIP] RE: Demand to Cease and Desist Trespassing Dear [Recipient's Full Name]: This letter is a formal demand that you immediately cease and desist from the following conduct: entering my property at [property address] without permission, including [where they were seen, e.g. the back yard and the detached garage] For the record, the conduct includes the following: You entered the property on [date] and again on [date]. Any permission you may believe you had to enter is revoked as of the date of this letter. This is not the first time I have raised this. I told you on [date] that you were not welcome on the property. Despite that, the conduct has continued. Accordingly, I demand that you immediately stop entering my property for any purpose, and stay off my property permanently unless I invite you in writing. You must comply within 5 days of receiving this letter. If you do not comply, I am prepared to pursue every remedy available to me, which may include filing a civil action seeking damages and injunctive relief and reporting your conduct to the appropriate authorities. I would prefer to resolve this without involving the courts, and your prompt compliance will make that possible. This letter is not a complete statement of the facts or of my rights, all of which are expressly reserved. Please treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Sincerely, [Your Full Name]

What to include

The property address and your right to control it (owner or tenant)
The entries that have occurred, with dates where known
Express revocation of any permission to enter
A statement that future entry will be reported to police
Proof of delivery, kept with your records

Common questions

Can I send this to someone I previously allowed on the property?

Yes. Permission can be revoked. The letter is precisely how you revoke it in a way you can later prove.

What if they come back after the letter?

Call the non-emergency police line, report the trespass, and mention the written notice with its delivery date. The letter converts a he-said-she-said into a documented violation.

Does this work against a former partner or family member?

If they have no legal right to occupy the property, yes. If they lived there or receive mail there, eviction rules may apply instead; that situation is worth a quick consultation with a local attorney or tenant board.

New to this? What a cease and desist letter is, whether it is legally binding, and how to send it properly.