California Landlord Entry Notice Law
California landlords must give at least 24 hours' notice before entering a rented home.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
California landlord entry notice rules at a glance
| Notice before entry | 24 hours' noticeCal. Civ. Code § 1954 |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Reasonable written notice (24 hours presumed reasonable; 6 days if mailed) stating date, approximate time and purpose; entry only during normal business hours and only for listed purposes; no notice for emergencies, abandonment, or tenant consent at the time of entryCal. Civ. Code § 1954 |
What California law says
How much notice must a California landlord give before entering a rental?
Give the tenant written notice at least 24 hours before entering (six days if mailed), stating the date, approximate time and purpose, and enter only during normal business hours except in emergencies (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(b), (d)).
How California compares
17 other verified jurisdictions use 24 hours; 9 require more.
Nevada and Oregon follow the same rule as California; 1 of its 3 neighbors differs.
Local rules in California
Many California cities and counties add stricter rules: local rent control/stabilization and just-cause ordinances (e.g., Los Angeles RSO, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, unincorporated Los Angeles County), extra notice content and filing requirements, relocation payments, caps on late fees under some rent ordinances, and security-deposit interest (e.g., San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Monica). The statewide Tenant Protection Act (Civ. Code §§ 1946.2, 1947.12) yields to qualifying stricter local ordinances. Check local law before using statewide numbers.
Other California rules
| Security deposit limit | 1 month's rent (with exceptions)Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(b), (c) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 21 days after move-outCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1), (h)(3) |
| Late-fee cap | 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) |
| Rent-increase notice | 30 days (90 days if the increase, alone or combined with other increases in the prior 12 months, exceeds 10% of the lowest rent charged in that period; add 5 days if served by mail (CCP § 1013))Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b) |
| Notice for unpaid rent | 3 business days (3-day notice to pay rent or quit)Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2) |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)–(d), Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(a) |
Read the California law
- California Dept. of Real Estate, California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities (2026 ed.)
- California Attorney General, Landlord-Tenant Issues
- California Courts Self-Help Guide: Eviction notices for landlords
- California Civil Code, Hiring of Real Property (Civ. Code §§ 1940–1954.535)
Put the entry-notice terms in writing
Related
- California lease agreement
- California landlord-tenant law
- Landlord entry notice in every state
- California notice to vacate
- California late rent notice
- California rent increase notice
- California security deposit return letter
- California notice of entry
- California lease termination letter
- California lease renewal letter
- California pet addendum