California Eviction Laws — A Landlord's Guide (2026)

California has the strictest eviction process in the US. Procedure errors void months of work. AB 1482 adds just-cause requirements for most multi-family.

Statute: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1161-1179

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The 3 notice types

3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit (non-payment). 30-Day Notice (tenancy <1 year, AB 1482-exempt only). 60-Day Notice (tenancy 1+ years OR AB 1482-covered).

AB 1482 just-cause

Applies to multi-family 15+ years old. Eviction only for: non-payment, lease breach, criminal activity, refusal to renew similar lease, OR no-fault (owner move-in, demolition, Ellis Act withdrawal). No-fault evictions require 1 month's rent in relocation assistance.

Service rules

Personal service preferred. If unavailable: substituted service (leave with adult resident + mail) OR posting + mail (only after 2 attempts at personal service).

Filing the unlawful detainer

After notice expires, file UD case in superior court. Tenant has 5 court days to answer. Trial scheduled within 20 days. Average CA eviction: 30-60 days from notice to lockout.

Common mistakes that void notices

(1) Wrong date format. (2) Notice period miscount (excludes day of service, includes deadline). (3) Missing landlord signature. (4) Missing required statutory language. (5) Service to wrong person.

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Auto-generates Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1161 3-day, 30-day, and 60-day notices based on tenancy length
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Not legal advice. Proprietio is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The content on this page is informational and was researched from publicly available statutes and case law, but state and local landlord-tenant rules change frequently and vary by jurisdiction. For specific situations in California, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Read full disclaimer.