CAState guide

California eviction notice

California's 3-day notice to pay rent or quit is one of the most technical documents in landlord law. Since 2019, the notice must include more than the amount due: it must name the person to whom rent can be paid and list the payment methods the landlord accepts.

This page explains the current requirements, the service methods and the records a landlord needs before filing an unlawful detainer case.

Written by Nora Whitfield, editorial lead. State rules checked by Samuel Okafor, rules editor, on October 20, 2026.

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Signing rule at a glance

No notaryNo witnesses3-day periodRules cited

California gives a tenant 3 days to pay the rent or vacate before a nonpayment case may be filed. The three days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays.

California gives a tenant 3 days to pay the rent or vacate before a nonpayment case may be filed. The three days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays. Source: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2).

Source: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2) (opens the official source in a new tab).

What the notice must say

California Code of Civil Procedure 1161 governs the 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. The notice must state the amount of rent due, the name, address and telephone number of the person to whom rent can be paid, and the payment methods the landlord accepts.

Citation: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2) (opens the official source in a new tab).

If the notice omits the payment details, or states an amount that includes an unlawful charge, a court may find it invalid. Use a rent ledger and include only rent and lawful charges. When in doubt, leave a disputed fee out and rely on the rent that is clearly due.

The exact amount of rent due and the period it covers.
The name, address and phone number for payment.
The payment methods the landlord accepts.
A clear statement that the tenant may pay or vacate within 3 days.

Serving the notice

California allows personal service, substituted service on a person of suitable age at the property followed by mailing, or posting and mailing when the tenant cannot be found. The service method affects when the 3 days start. Follow the statute and keep a proof of service.

A notice served by posting and mailing generally adds time. Do not count the day of service, and do not include court holidays in a way the statute does not allow. The California courts publish a self-help guide that explains the counting rules.

A 3-day notice is not a court order. Only a sheriff or marshal can carry out a lockout after a judgment. Changing the locks yourself can lead to damages.

Local rent control and just cause

Many California cities and counties have rent control or just-cause ordinances that add notice and filing requirements. A state law, the Tenant Protection Act, also limits rent increases and requires just cause for eviction in many properties. A 3-day notice for nonpayment may still be allowed, but the local rules can change the process.

Check the city or county where the property sits before serving. A notice that is valid under state law can still fail under a local ordinance. The local rent board or the court's self-help center can confirm the current rules.

Filing the unlawful detainer

If the tenant does not pay or leave, the landlord files an unlawful detainer case in the superior court for the county where the property is located. The complaint should attach the notice, the lease and a rent ledger. The tenant can raise defenses, including improper notice, habitability or retaliation.

California's unlawful detainer process moves quickly, and the forms and deadlines are specific. A landlord who is not experienced with the process should talk to a local attorney before filing. The court's self-help center has the current forms.

Filled sample, California

Eviction notice (pay or quit)

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

This notice is given on October 6, 2026 by Ridgeway Property Group LLC, of PO Box 4412, Austin, TX 78765 (the landlord), to Ana P. Morales (the tenant), for the premises at 813 East 7th Street, Unit 4, Austin, TX 78702, in Travis County, State of California. The tenancy is governed by the lease dated November 1, 2025 and by the laws of the State of California.

1. Rent due

The rent for the period October 1 to October 31, 2026 was due on October 1, 2026. The monthly rent is $1,650.00. After applying all payments received, the amount now due is $1,650.00 (One thousand six hundred fifty dollars). This amount consists of rent and any lawful charges shown on the attached ledger. No amount for damages or for a disputed fee is included unless it is lawful rent under the lease.

2. Demand to pay or vacate

You are hereby notified that you must pay the amount due stated above, or vacate and surrender possession of the premises, within 3 days after you receive this notice. If you pay the full amount due within that period, this notice will be withdrawn and no court case will be filed on this notice.

3. How to pay

Payment must be made to Ridgeway Property Group LLC at PO Box 4412, Austin, TX 78765. Accepted methods: Money order, cashier's check or the online tenant portal. Ask for a receipt. If you mail a payment, it must be received by the deadline; the postmark date does not extend the deadline unless the lease or state law says it does.

4. If you do not pay or vacate

If you do not pay the full amount due or vacate within the period stated above, the landlord may file a lawsuit for possession in the court with jurisdiction over Travis County. The landlord may also ask the court for rent, court costs and any other relief the law allows. Filing a case does not change the amount you owe.

5. Partial payments

The landlord may accept a partial payment without waiving the right to proceed on this notice. Acceptance of a partial payment does not extend the deadline and does not cure the default.

6. Certificate of service

I served this notice on October 6, 2026 by personal delivery. I am at least 18 years old and I am not the tenant. A copy of this notice is attached to the landlord's file, together with any mailing receipt or photograph of the posted notice.

7. Governing law

This notice is given under the laws of the State of California. If a court finds that the notice period or the method of service does not meet the statute, the landlord may re-serve a corrected notice. Nothing in this notice waives a right the tenant has under the lease or under state or local law.

California notice: under Code of Civil Procedure 1161, a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit must state the amount due, the name, address and telephone number of the person to whom rent may be paid, and the payment methods the landlord accepts. The payment details above are part of that requirement.

Landlord or agent

Landlord or authorized agent

Signature

Printed name: Ridgeway Property Group LLC

Date

Signing requirements: California gives a tenant 3 days to pay the rent or vacate before a nonpayment case may be filed. The three days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays.

Source: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2).

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State where the document will be used

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Step 1 of 3

Parties and premises

Use the names on the lease. If more than one tenant signed, list them all in the same line or add them exactly as the lease does.

Landlord's full name

Landlord's address for notices

Tenant's full name

Rental address

County

Lease dateOptional

The notice period has a legal minimum. Choose the period your state statute requires, and keep proof of the date you served it.

Signing in California

No notary3-day noticeRules cited

California gives a tenant 3 days to pay the rent or vacate before a nonpayment case may be filed. The three days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays.

Source: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2) (opens the official source in a new tab). Read the California guide

Eviction notice (pay or quit)

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

1. Rent due

2. Demand to pay or vacate

3. How to pay

4. If you do not pay or vacate

5. Partial payments

The landlord may accept a partial payment without waiving the right to proceed on this notice. Acceptance of a partial payment does not extend the deadline and does not cure the default.

6. Certificate of service

7. Governing law

Landlord or agent

Landlord or authorized agent

Signature

Printed name: Ridgeway Property Group LLC

Date

Signing requirements: California gives a tenant 3 days to pay the rent or vacate before a nonpayment case may be filed. The three days exclude Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays.

Source: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2).

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Questions about the California form

What must a California 3-day notice include?

The amount due, the name, address and phone number of the person to whom rent can be paid, and the payment methods accepted. Since 2019 these details are required, and a notice that omits them can be invalid.

Can I serve a California notice by email?

The statute allows specific methods: personal service, substituted service with mailing, or posting and mailing. Email may not satisfy the statute. Use a method the code allows and keep proof of service.

Does local rent control change the notice?

It can. Many cities and counties have additional notice, just-cause and filing rules. Check the local ordinance and the rent board before serving the notice.

Not a law firm, not legal advice

PaperDeed is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide self-help templates and general information about signing rules. If you are unsure whether a document fits your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

Every rule above names its statute or state form, and links to the official text where the state publishes it online. This state guide was updated on October 20, 2026.