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    California Late Rent Notice

    California sets no numeric late-fee cap, but a residential late fee is enforceable only if it is a reasonable estimate of the landlord's actual costs from late payment that would be hard to calculate, so keep fees modest and document how you set them (Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th Supp. 7). The late rent notice below is preset for California: fill in your details, then print it or save it as a PDF.

    State rules last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

    California rules for a late rent notice

    Late fee limit
    No fixed statutory cap. A pre-set residential late fee is liquidated damages and is void unless actual damages would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix and the amount is a reasonable estimate of the landlord's actual damages from late payment (Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th Supp. 7). Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d)
    Grace period before a late fee
    No statewide statute Cal. Civ. Code, Part 4, Title 5, Ch. 2 (Hiring of Real Property) — no grace-period provision
    Formal notice for unpaid rent
    3 business days: 3-day notice to pay rent or quit Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)

    Late Rent Notice generator

    Parties

    Everyone named on the lease. Separate names with commas.

    Where the tenant can reach you about the balance or a payment already sent.

    State

    Grace period: California law does not require a grace period before a late fee can be charged, though leases commonly allow until the 5th (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940–1954.535 contain no grace-period rule).

    Amount due

    The month (or other period) the unpaid rent is for.

    $
    $

    Anything the tenant already paid toward this period's rent.

    Leave empty if the lease has no grace period.

    $

    Only charge a late fee your lease provides for, in the amount it sets. California: California sets no numeric late-fee cap, but a residential late fee is enforceable only if it is a reasonable estimate of the landlord's actual costs from late payment that would be hard to calculate, so keep fees modest and document how you set them (Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th Supp. 7).

    Only charges the lease allows, such as a returned-payment fee.

    Payment

    The date you're asking the tenant to pay the balance by.

    Use the payment methods your lease allows.

    Details

    For example, an offer to talk about a payment date. Keep it factual.

    A neutral sentence; it does not threaten eviction or name a deadline set by law.

    Blank PDF

    Free, no account needed. Showing example details. Replace them with yours.

    Late Rent Notice

    Notice of past-due rent

    Date of notice:November 7, 2026
    Rental property:123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield
    To (tenants):Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera
    From (landlord or agent):Jordan Ellis

    Dear Alex Morgan, Sam Rivera:

    This notice is to let you know that the rent for November 2026 at 123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield, which was due on November 1, 2026, has not been received in full as of the date of this notice. Your lease provides a grace period of 5 days, which has ended.

    Amount due

    ItemAmount
    Rent for November 2026$1,800
    Late fee (lease Section 4)$50
    Total amount due$1,850

    The late fee is charged under the late-fee terms of your lease (Section 4). If you believe any amount above is wrong, please contact me so we can review it.

    How to pay

    Please pay the total amount due of $1,850 by November 14, 2026.

    Pay through the online payment portal, or by check or money order payable to Jordan Ellis, mailed or delivered to 500 Oak Avenue, Springfield.

    If you have already sent this payment, thank you; please let me know the date and method so I can match it to your account. If you are having trouble paying, please contact me as soon as possible at (555) 010-2030 so we can talk about it.

    This notice is a reminder of the balance owed under your lease. If the balance is not paid, any further steps will be those allowed by the lease and by the law of the state where the property is located.

    Sincerely,

    Landlord or agent signature (Jordan Ellis)
    Date

    Mailing address: 500 Oak Avenue, Springfield

    Delivery record

    This notice was delivered on __________ by (check one):

    • [ ] Hand delivery to the tenant
    • [ ] First-class mail
    • [ ] Certified mail, return receipt requested (tracking no. ____________________)
    • [ ] Email or other method allowed by the lease: ____________________
    Person delivering signature
    Date

    Made free at make.lease/forms/late-rent-notice

    What California requires

    Late fee limit

    California sets no numeric late-fee cap, but a residential late fee is enforceable only if it is a reasonable estimate of the landlord's actual costs from late payment that would be hard to calculate, so keep fees modest and document how you set them (Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th Supp. 7).

    Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d) · checked October 26, 2026

    Grace period before a late fee

    California law does not require a grace period before a late fee can be charged, though leases commonly allow until the 5th (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940–1954.535 contain no grace-period rule).

    Cal. Civ. Code, Part 4, Title 5, Ch. 2 (Hiring of Real Property) — no grace-period provision · checked October 26, 2026

    Formal notice for unpaid rent

    Before filing for unpaid rent, serve a written 3-day notice to pay rent or quit that excludes Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, states the exact rent owed (no late fees) and who/where/how to pay (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)).

    Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2) · checked October 26, 2026

    City and county rules can be stricter than state law, and your lease can require more than the statute does. Use whichever rule gives the tenant more time or protection.

    More for California landlords