Arizona: What Counts as Valid Posting for Tenant Service?
Posting is one of the most misunderstood parts of Arizona eviction law. Some landlords tape a notice to the door and assume they're covered. Others believe posting a summons is enough to move the case forward.
Under Arizona law, posting by itself is never enough—not for notices and not for eviction lawsuits.
To be legally valid, posting must be combined with the correct secondary step, performed at the correct time, and handled by the correct party.
Fast Serve AZ ensures every posting is executed in compliance with ARLTA and the Rules of Procedure for Eviction Actions (RPEA), so your case cannot be dismissed for improper service.
1. Posting a Notice (Before Filing) vs. Posting a Summons (After Filing)
These are governed by two totally different sets of rules:
A. Pre-Filing Notices
(5-day, 10-day, health & safety, noncompliance, etc.)
Governed by ARLTA.
Valid service requires one of:
- • Hand delivery
- • Certified mail
- • Posting + certified mail (when personal delivery fails)
Posting alone does not count.
B. Eviction Summons & Complaint
(After lawsuit is filed)
Governed by RPEA 5(f).
Valid service methods:
- • Personal service, OR
- • Posting + mailing (first-class or certified), after diligent attempts
Posting alone does not count here either.
Fast Serve AZ handles the lawsuit service, not the pre-filing notices, but landlords often mix the two—resulting in case dismissal.
2. Valid Posting for Notices Under ARLTA (Before Filing)
Landlords must follow ARLTA for all statutory notices. A validly posted notice requires:
Posting the notice in a conspicuous location
The notice must be:
- • Placed on the tenant's main entry door
- • Visible and secure
Posting on a garage, mailbox, gate, or nearby surface is not valid.
Mailing a certified copy the same day
The notice must be sent to:
- • The property address, OR
- • A valid alternate address provided by the tenant
Certified mail is mandatory. Regular mail, FedEx, UPS, and email do not count.
Understanding how time periods run
Service is considered complete the day after both posting and mailing occur. The countdown (e.g., 5-day or 10-day notice) begins the following day.
Invalid notice service examples:
Any of these errors can cause the eviction to be thrown out.
3. Valid Posting for Eviction Lawsuits Under RPEA (After Filing)
Once the eviction case is filed, a constable, sheriff, or certified private process server must serve the summons and complaint.
Posting becomes valid only after diligent personal-service attempts fail, and only if:
The summons and complaint are posted at the correct unit
Requirements:
- • Posted on the main entrance
- • Clearly visible
- • Securely fastened
- • All required documents included (summons, complaint, lease, addendums, Residential Eviction Information Sheet)
A second copy is mailed
Mailing can be:
- • First-class mail, or
- • Certified mail
Both posting and mailing must occur at least two court days before the hearing.
Documentation is complete
The affidavit must reflect:
- • All personal-service attempts
- • Time, date, and location of posting
- • Method of mailing
- • Full list of served documents
Errors in timing or affidavit content often cause dismissal.
4. What Does Not Count as Valid Posting (Notice or Summons)
Posting is automatically invalid when:
Posting alone—under any circumstances—is never sufficient legal service in Arizona.
5. The Most Common Reasons Posting Fails in Court
Wrong notice form
Using an "immediate termination" notice improperly, issuing a 10-day when a 5-day was required, or missing details (dates, times, specific behavior).
Posting without certified mailing
This is the #1 reason notice-based evictions fail.
Posting the lawsuit without prior attempts
RPEA requires multiple personal-service attempts.
Posting at the wrong door or wrong unit
Shared entrance units are common failure points.
Mailing occurred too late
Courts require at least two court days of notice before the hearing.
6. Why Fast Serve AZ Never Makes Posting Mistakes
Fast Serve AZ executes posting with:
Our process eliminates the technical errors that commonly derail eviction cases.
7. Summary: What Counts as Valid Posting in Arizona?
For notices (pre-filing):
Posting + certified mail is required.
For summons & complaint (post-filing):
Posting + mailing is required.
In both cases:
Fast Serve AZ ensures posting is executed correctly, legally, and on time—every time.