Can a lease be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (1999) in adopting states; non-residential leases are not among universal exceptions, so e-signing is normally valid.

Is notarization required for validity?

Most commercial leases do not require notarization to be valid between parties, but notarization or recording may be required for certain filings or to perfect interests in some jurisdictions; check local recording office guidance.

Do I need witnesses to sign?

Witness requirements vary by state and by document type; for standard commercial leases witnesses are uncommon, but state law and landlord policy determine when witnesses are necessary.

Can a corporation sign the lease electronically?

Yes, if the signer has authority and the electronic process captures intent, attribution, and consent. Confirm corporate authorization by attaching a board resolution or officer certificate when needed.

What about recording or lien priority?

Recording a lease or memorandum may be necessary to protect priority against third parties; recording requirements differ by county and can require notarized instruments in some states.

How do I amend or extend a lease?

Amendments and renewals should be executed in writing and signed by authorized parties. For electronic workflows include an amendment page or a new agreement with a clear cross-reference to the original lease.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
Non-Residential Lease Agreement

Non-Residential Lease Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

NON-RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

This Non-Residential Lease Agreement ("Lease") is made and entered into as of by and between the parties identified below. Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:

Parties

Landlord Name Landlord Address for Notices Tenant Name Tenant Address for Notices

Premises

Street Address of Premises Parcel / APN Number Legal Description Estimated Usable Square Feet

Term

Lease Commencement Date: Lease Expiration Date:

Possession: Tenant shall be entitled to possession on the Commencement Date, subject to Landlord's prior obligations, and shall surrender possession to Landlord upon expiration or earlier termination in broom-clean condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

Rent and Payment Terms

Base Monthly Rent

Rent Payment Due Day Each Month: ; Rent payable in lawful funds to Landlord at Landlord's address or other location designated in writing.

Security Deposit Late Charge and Interest

All amounts due under this Lease that remain unpaid shall bear interest at the rate specified above from the due date until paid. Landlord may apply Security Deposit to cure Tenant defaults as permitted by law; Tenant remains liable for any shortfall.

Operating Expenses; Taxes; CAM

Tenant shall be responsible for Tenant's proportionate share of operating expenses, common area maintenance ("CAM"), real property taxes, and property insurance premiums as additional rent except to the extent otherwise specified. Tenant's initial estimated annual share of Operating Expenses is $

Tenant's proportionate share (common area factor): . Annual reconciliations shall be performed and adjustments billed as Additional Rent.

Utilities and Services

Responsibility for utilities and services (check applicable boxes):

Tenant pays electric
Tenant pays water
Tenant pays gas
Tenant pays sewer
Tenant pays trash
Landlord maintains HVAC

Repairs, Maintenance and Alterations

Tenant shall, at Tenant's expense, maintain the interior of the Premises in good order and repair, including interior finishes, plumbing fixtures and systems serving only the Premises. Landlord shall be responsible for structural repairs and the exterior envelope unless damage arises from Tenant's negligence.

Alterations and Tenant Improvement Consent

Insurance and Waiver of Subrogation

Tenant shall maintain commercial general liability insurance with a minimum combined single limit of $ per occurrence and property insurance covering Tenant's personal property and Tenant improvements. Landlord and Tenant each waive any rights of recovery against the other to the extent covered by insurance.

Environmental

Tenant shall not cause or permit the presence, release or disposal of hazardous materials on or under the Premises in violation of any environmental law. Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold Landlord harmless from all claims, costs and liabilities arising from Tenant's breach of this obligation.

Hazardous materials present on Premises at commencement (check applicable): Yes No

Assignment and Subletting

Tenant shall not assign this Lease or sublet the Premises without Landlord's prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld for creditworthy tenants. Any assignment without consent is voidable by Landlord and constitutes default.

Landlord consent required: Yes No

Default; Remedies

Events of Default include Tenant's failure to pay rent when due or failure to perform any other covenant within the time specified in a written notice. Upon Default, Landlord may pursue all remedies available at law or equity, including termination of this Lease, recovery of possession, acceleration of rent, and recovery of damages, costs and attorneys' fees.

Casualty; Condemnation

If the Premises are damaged by fire or other casualty, Landlord shall repair as required by law; rent abatement shall apply proportionately during restoration if Tenant is deprived of use. If condemnation deprives Tenant of all of the Premises, this Lease shall terminate and award shall be apportioned as provided by law.

Surrender; Holdover

Upon expiration or termination, Tenant shall surrender the Premises in the condition required by this Lease. Tenant's holding over without Landlord's written consent constitutes a tenancy at sufferance and subjects Tenant to holdover rent equal to 150% of the then-applicable rent plus all other damages.

Brokers

Each party represents that it has not dealt with any broker or agent except those identified below. The party that engaged any broker shall be responsible for any brokerage commissions.

Broker(s) Representing Tenant or Landlord

Notices

All notices under this Lease must be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below or to such other address as either party may designate by notice.

Notice Address for Landlord Notice Address for Tenant

Governing Law; Entire Agreement

This Lease shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of . This Lease constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements. Amendments must be in writing signed by both parties.

Miscellaneous Provisions

If any provision of this Lease is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Lease shall remain in full force and effect. Time is of the essence for all material obligations of the parties.

Landlord:

By:

Date:

Tenant:

By:

Date:

What a Non-Residential Lease Agreement Covers

A Non-Residential Lease Agreement is a written contract that establishes the terms under which real property is rented for commercial, industrial, or other non-residential uses. It defines the parties (landlord and tenant), a precise description of the premises, permitted uses, lease term and renewal options, rent and payment schedule, security deposit terms, maintenance responsibilities, insurance and indemnity obligations, and default and remedy provisions. The document allocates risk and performance obligations between the parties and provides the legal basis for enforcement, collection, and dispute resolution during the tenancy.

Why a Clear Commercial Lease Matters

A well-drafted Non-Residential Lease Agreement reduces ambiguity about permitted uses, cost allocation, and responsibilities, lowering the risk of disputes and business interruptions. It clarifies operational details such as maintenance, signage, and utilities, and sets measurable events for rent, termination, and remedies.

Who Typically Prepares or Signs This Agreement

Multiple stakeholders prepare, review, or sign non-residential leases; understanding roles helps ensure the agreement is complete and enforceable.

Commercial landlords and property managers responsible for lease terms and compliance across portfolios.
Business tenants (corporations, LLCs) negotiating permitted use, improvements, and operating expenses.
Legal and real estate counsel who review regulatory, zoning, and liability provisions.

Identifying the right participants early speeds execution and reduces last-minute revisions that can delay occupancy or tenant improvements.

Core Elements to Include in a Professional Lease

These six elements form the backbone of a comprehensive Non-Residential Lease Agreement and protect both parties by allocating rights, costs, and responsibilities.

Parties

Identify full legal names and entity types for landlord and tenant, including business formation details and contact information for notices and service.

Premises

Provide an exact legal description, square footage, suite numbers, and attached exhibits or floor plans to avoid later disputes over included space.

Term

Specify lease commencement, fixed expiration, any early possession terms, renewal options, and practical conditions for exercising renewals.

Rent

State base rent, payment schedule, late fees, escalation clauses (CPI or fixed increases), CAM charges, and how pro rata calculations are performed.

Use and Compliance

Define permitted business uses, tenant obligations for compliance with zoning and statutes, and restrictions on assignments or subleases.

Maintenance & Insurance

Allocate maintenance, repair, and capital improvement responsibilities; require insurance coverages, indemnities, and certificate delivery timelines.

Security, Audit, and Compliance Considerations

Data Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data at Rest: AES-256 encryption

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II available

HIPAA Support: BAA available

Audit Trail: Comprehensive timestamping

Access Control: SSO and role permissions

Step-by-Step: Completing the Lease Document

Follow this sequence to prepare and finalize a Non-Residential Lease Agreement efficiently and with minimal revisions.

01

Prepare Parties: Confirm legal entity names and signer authority
02

Describe Premises: Attach floor plans and exact measurements
03

Set Financials: Enter rent, deposits, and escalation clauses
04

Sign and Distribute: Obtain required signatures and share executed copies

Configuring an Online Signing Workflow

Set up fields and authentication to match your internal approval path and regulatory needs for commercial leases.

Field	Online Setting
Signature Field	Required with date stamp
Initials Field	Optional per page for amendments
Conditional Clauses	Show when tenant selects build-out options
Authentication	Email plus SMS code recommended

Typical Document Routing and Delivery

A standard routing sequence reduces friction and provides a clear audit trail for both parties and internal approvers.

Upload Document: Sender uploads final lease version
Place Fields: Insert signature, initials, and date fields
Invite Signers: Send by email or secure link with auth
Archive Copies: Distribute executed PDF and audit trail

Technical Integration and Platform Needs

Choose a platform that supports required integrations, authentication, and file formats for commercial lease workflows.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
File Types: PDF and DOCX supported
Authentication: SMS, email, SSO options

Key Timing and Notice Deadlines to Track

Commercial leases require tracking payment schedules, renewal windows, and statutory notice periods to protect rights and avoid inadvertent renewals or forfeiture.

Lease Commencement:

Effective on the date specified by parties

Rent Due Dates:

Monthly or as specified; late fee schedule applies

Security Deposit Return:

Return timing varies by state; check local law

Termination Notice:

30–90 days typical for nonrenewal unless agreed otherwise

Renewal Election Window:

State and contract clauses set exact election dates

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Using informal or incomplete legal descriptions of the premises, which can result in disputes about rentable area and maintenance responsibilities.
Failing to verify signer authority for corporate tenants, causing signatures to be challenged and delaying enforcement or recording.
Leaving rent escalation and CAM calculations ambiguous, producing periodic accounting disputes and audit complications.
Omitting explicit assignment, sublease, and signage provisions, which can lead to unauthorized use and lease violations.

Principal Risks and Potential Contract Consequences

Enforceability Risk: Ambiguous terms may be void

Financial Exposure: Unclear CAM charges cause disputes

Security Deposit Risk: Statutory penalties for mishandling

Recording Issues: Unrecorded interests affect priority

Regulatory Noncompliance: Zoning or permit violations

Termination Liability: Early termination damages apply

Examples: How Organizations Use a Commercial Lease

These brief examples show practical outcomes when a Non-Residential Lease Agreement is executed with clear terms and proper signing workflows.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

A landlord digitized lease workflows to speed execution and track documents automatically.

Reduced physical meetings for tenant onboarding.
Tim Martin reports faster processing with consistent compliance and secure mobile execution that lets tenants sign from job sites or offices without losing auditability.

Optica Ventures — Brian Fitzgibbons

A small commercial landlord standardized a template and used online signing to reduce negotiation time.

Centralized templates cut drafting time.
Brian Fitzgibbons notes the interface is easy for teams and customers, improving turnaround while maintaining consistent clauses across properties.

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Commercial Lease Workflows

This comparison highlights starting prices and key feature differences relevant to lease execution and compliance; signNow is listed first per vendor ordering rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Lease Execution

Answers to common operational and legal questions help clarify whether a lease can be signed electronically and what additional steps may be required.

Need help? Contact support

Can a lease be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (1999) in adopting states; non-residential leases are not among universal exceptions, so e-signing is normally valid.
Is notarization required for validity?
Most commercial leases do not require notarization to be valid between parties, but notarization or recording may be required for certain filings or to perfect interests in some jurisdictions; check local recording office guidance.
Do I need witnesses to sign?
Witness requirements vary by state and by document type; for standard commercial leases witnesses are uncommon, but state law and landlord policy determine when witnesses are necessary.
Can a corporation sign the lease electronically?
Yes, if the signer has authority and the electronic process captures intent, attribution, and consent. Confirm corporate authorization by attaching a board resolution or officer certificate when needed.
What about recording or lien priority?
Recording a lease or memorandum may be necessary to protect priority against third parties; recording requirements differ by county and can require notarized instruments in some states.
How do I amend or extend a lease?
Amendments and renewals should be executed in writing and signed by authorized parties. For electronic workflows include an amendment page or a new agreement with a clear cross-reference to the original lease.

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