DEFINITION of 'First Notice Day'. The day after which an investor who has purchased a futures contract may be required to take physical delivery of the contract's underlying commodity. First notice day varies by contract; it also depends on exchange rules. If the first business day of the delivery month was Monday, Oct. 1, first notice day would typically fall one to three business days prior, so it could be Wednesday, Sept. 26, Thursday, Sept.27, or Friday, Sept. 28.